SSFC Women held to 4-4 draw against Sunderland West End

South Shields Women picked up a point on the road against Sunderland West End Ladies on Sunday as they played out a remarkable 4-4 draw.

At the break, The Mariners were two goals to the good thanks to goals by Sophie Greener and a wonderful effort from range by Eve Gatens.

But things took a turn for the worse in the second-half and West End got themselves back in the thick of it.  

Annece Legg and Zoe Norton also got on the scoresheet for Shields but a devastating late goal quashed the lasses’ hopes of winning their second game of the season.

It was an unchanged starting 11 by head coach Alex Miller, who opted to trust the team which stormed to a 4-1 victory against Spennymoor Town Ladies last week.

Players on both sides were committed whatever the weather, and it helped in these inclement conditions that both teams were up for a physical battle, which was another factor out there.

Shields took the lead when Gatens swung a corner, in the 27th minute, into the box which led to a subsequent scramble and Greener took advantage of that.

Gatens was the mastermind behind Shields’ second goal and she struck low and hard into the corner.

West End grabbed their first of the afternoon just after the second-half started, when Anya Donelan pinged a ball over to Isla Maggs who was waiting in the box to pounce.

Within a minute, however, Legg restored Shields’ two-goal advantage with a well-worked finish.

The hosts quickly got back into things, after Alex Ross guided a free-kick on target and Gowans couldn’t hold onto it.

But Zoe Norton added to Shields’ tally after smashing a hit from close-range. 

Anya Donelan grabbed a goal which gave West End a fighting chance of mounting a comeback, which they eventually did with an 82nd minute goal.

Set pieces were crucial at both ends and Mel Simpson was on the end of this free-kick which levelled the game.

Focus must now turn to the home match against newly-promoted York RI Ladies this Sunday, September 15th - more details will be available on the club’s website before matchday.

Sunderland West End Ladies: Sawyer, Smith, Elliot, Anderson, Ross, Simpson, Kaur, Donelan, Hutchinson, Maggs, Ferris. 

Substitutes: Dodds, O’Leary, Howe, Traill-Scott. 

Goals: Maggs, Donelan, Ross, Simpson. 

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

Substitutes: England, McDonald, Naylor. 

Goals: Greener, Gatens, Legg, Norton.