SSFC Women lose first game of the season against Chester-le-Street

South Shields Women picked up their first defeat of the season in heartbreaking fashion, losing out to a last-minute Chester-le-Street Town Ladies winner.

Jenny Ashton’s goal separated the current top two sides in the NERWFL Premier Division, a result which put the visitors five points clear heading into November.

Alex Miller opted for an unchanged starting 11 from the side which beat FC United of Manchester in the Women’s FA Cup a fortnight ago, a move which seemed right given how hard-working the team had previously proven to be.

For much of the game, Shields withstood the Cestrians’ pressure excellently, time and time showing how effective they can be defensively.

Credit must be given in particular to the player-of-the-match, Scarlett Gowans (picking up the accolade for the third time in recent weeks), for her outstanding display.

It was said after the game that her saves kept the Mariners in it until the very end, and she pulled off some fantastic saves.

A first clean sheet of the season for Shields wasn’t to be, but the team can be proud of the fact they kept pushing for a winner despite the fact they encountered many challenges.

Perhaps the best chance going forward in the first-half from a home perspective, was when Sophie Greener charged down the right-hand side of the wing and crossed it to Ashley Townsend who had some space in the box. 

If she had connected with it cleanly, who knows what might have happened, but the chance fizzled away and Ellie Jardine picked it up with ease.

Becki McMahon tried one from distance, a little like her strike against Bradford City the other week but from a more central position, and it threatened the keeper but she ultimately claimed it.

Greener was on corner duty at times and one such example almost posed a clear-cut chance for the Mariners to take the lead. 

Townsend got a header to Greener’s delivery, and Ellie White could only hit and hope amidst an in-box scramble, but for a split-second there was an open goal to potentially score in.

There were chances after the break of course, but the main talking point had to be the last-minute winner, which condemned Shields to their first defeat of the campaign.

A cross was put in, forcing Gowans to make a sensational double-save, but Ashton managed to fire it into the top corner before either her, McMahon, or Zoe Norton could react.

Focus must turn towards the big Women’s FA Cup game at 1st Cloud Arena on Sunday - a home match against third-tier Halifax FC Women. Full details will be confirmed shortly. 

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

Substitutes: Mole, Wootten, England, McDonald, Jota. 

Chester-le-Street Town Ladies: Ashton, Ellison, Gray, Henderson, Hockaday, Hunt, Jardine, Kelly, Prudhoe, Third, Wilcock.

Substitutes: Greenwood, Baxter, Cook, Heckingbottom.

Goals: Ashton (90+1')