SSFC Women defeated 3-0 by Wallsend BC in big promotion blow

South Shields Women’s promotion chances were almost certainly extinguished after the side lost 3-0 to Wallsend BC Women on a thoroughly disappointing afternoon at 1st Cloud Arena.

The visitors were the stronger side from the off and they took the lead in the 23rd minute due to a fantastic free-kick outside the 18-yard box from Michaela Sewell. 

Sewell found her second before the break, and Wallsend added another mid-way into the second half via Jessica White to cap off a match to forget for the Mariners.

There was one change from the side which swept past promotion contenders Spennymoor Town Ladies last week, with Josie Foster replacing Phoebe Dixon on the bench.

A torrential downpour overnight meant that 1st Cloud Arena wasn’t its typical dry self, which meant that play had to be adjusted in order to compromise for the softness of the pitch. 

That could have played its part in Shields falling to defeat, but at the same time Wallsend showed their quality from minute one - in the same conditions - and they fully deserved the three points. 

From a Mariners’ perspective, the first significant chance came from Jaz Elliott-Wood who tried another of her trademark free-kicks and almost struck gold.  

It looked set to be flying in but the keeper got a miraculous hand to it and tipped the ball over the crossbar for a corner. 

Shields were forced to defend a handful of clear-cut chances, with Scarlett Gowans getting to them all, if the backline couldn’t get to it themselves.

But Sewell’s first goal of the afternoon came mid-way into the first half through a free-kick and what a hit from range it was. 

There was no stopping that and the Wallsend forward celebrated with the rest of her team for breaking the deadlock.

Unfortunately for the lasses there was no comeback like last time at 1st Cloud: Sewell followed it up with her second to complete a nice bit of play starting from the keeper, and ending with a goal.

Sewell launched an exquisite ball which broke through the Shields line and found White in the box who only had to get it past Gowans - and she did.

Monica Innes couldn’t reach the situation in time to make a last-ditch clearance.

All in all, today was one to forget for the lasses, who now have three games ahead of them before the season ends next Wednesday (8th May). 

It’s a quick turnaround, as this Wednesday (1st May) the team is back at 1st Cloud Arena under the floodlights for a 7:30pm kick-off against Alnwick Town Ladies. 

South Shields Women: Gowans, Innes, May, Greener, Legg, Gatens, Curle, Wootten, Norton, Elliott-Wood, Mole. 

Substitutes: Ali, Taylor, E. White, Longstaff, Foster. 

Wallsend BC Women: Blench, Killip, Johnson, Wuerfel, N. Dack, Walker, J. White, Regan, Gilchrist, Sewell, Donachie.

Substitutes: Mark, Graham, C. Dack, Rikkerink.