SSFC Women dominate in eight-goal thriller against Spennymoor Town

Hat-trick hero Cat Abusada played a starring role as South Shields Women thumped Spennymoor Town Ladies 6-2 on Sunday.

The Mariners led 19 minutes into the first-half after Annece Legg finished off an outstanding ball from Eve Gatens, though Spennymoor responded with a strike of their own within minutes.

Shields regained their lead in the 25th minute through Ellie White. 

Superstar Gatens scored Shields' third of the game; her thunderous volley gave them breathing room, with 11 minutes before the half-time whistle. 

Abusada struck in the 72nd minute, while Spennymoor got one back eight minutes later via an own goal. 

Abusada struck twice more, with goals in the 81st and 89th minute, claiming her hat-trick. 

The lasses came into Sunday’s fixture confident, having won 2-0 last time out against Harrogate Town AFC Women. 

With the Mariners already two points ahead of Spennymoor, Sunday was a game which could see Shields go five points ahead of fifth-placed Spennymoor.

The Mariners started magnificently, with chances coming to Legg and Jen Wootten early on.

Wootten’s chance was the most noteworthy of the two - the midfielder smashed her effort at goal and it just crept over the bar. 

Shields again created an opportunity at goal, once more through Legg: the forward found herself through on goal but unfortunately for Shields, her shot was straight at Isabella Dixon.

Shields then got their well deserved opener after a terrific first 20 minutes.

The goal came through a magical Gatens and Legg combination; Gatens fizzed the ball forward into space for Legg who latched on and slotted the ball home. 

Spennymoor responded quickly with Becca Drinkald getting the equaliser not too long after Legg's opener. 

Shields showed their defiance, showing they too know how to respond to a goal. 

Forward White finished off a wonderful team goal, getting the Mariners' second of the game. 

Gatens again pinged a wonderful switch to Legg - the forward, one-on-one with Dixon, unselfishly squared it to White who slotted into an empty net. 

In the 34th minute Gatens showed her outstanding quality, smashing a volley past Dixon to get the team's third of the game. 

The game saw its first card in the 40th minute when defender Coral Colledge was sent off for the hosts after lashing out at Gatens.

Shields made one half-time substitution bringing on Sophie Greener for goalscorer White. 

Five minutes into the second-half Josie Foster stepped up to a free-kick - 25 yards out.

The defender smashed a curling effort against the woodwork. 

Just before the hour mark, Shields again hit the woodwork. This time it was Gatens, who trademark-like cut inside and rifled the ball against the post. 

Eventually then, the Mariners got that fourth goal which they had been searching for. 

Gatens fizzed the corner, in which Legg met, near perfect on the volley, the strike again hit the woodwork but kindly fell for Abusada to nod home for Shields. 

Shortly afterwards, Spennymoor scored what turned out to be just a consolation goal, as 'keeper Scarlett Gowans put the ball into the net following a corner. 

A minute later, Abusada was in again, the midfielder latched onto a deflected Gatens pass - rounding Dixon and slotting home comfortably. 

Right on the stroke of full-time, Abusada got that well deserved hat-trick. 

Gatens performed an exquisite pass that played Abusada in - one-on-one, with Dixon, Abusada made no mistake, her sliding finish hit the back of the net, for Shields' sixth and her third of the afternoon.

The lasses return to action this coming Thursday when they face Wallsend BC Women at Kirkley Park.

Spennymoor Town Ladies: Dixon, C. Colledge, Jackson, Elliott, Knox, Drinkald, S. White, Richardson, Mysleyko, Doogan, Bates. 

Substitutes: McGovern, Sangha, A. Colledge. 

Goals: Drinkald (22’), Own Goal (80’). 

South Shields Women: Gowans, Innes, May, Legg, Gatens, E. White, Wootten, McMahon, Abusada, Jota, Foster.

Substitutes: Mole, Greener, England, Norton. 

Goals: Legg (19’), White (25’), Gatens (34’), Abusada (71’, 81’, 89’). 

Attendance: 169.