SSFC Women pick out their favourite moments so far

Sunday didn’t go the way SSFC Women wanted, but it’s still been an impressive start to the season for the team.

Matt Gatiss’ Mariners sit top of the NERWFL Premier Division and are unbeaten in eight, with 14 games left to try to get the team promoted via the division’s only available spot.

Recent winners Chester-le-Street Town Women and York City Ladies both stormed their campaigns with an even better record than Shields’ current tally would suggest, so the onus is on Gatiss and the team to pull some momentum together, with no cup distractions in sight to deter them following the County Cup penalty shootout defeat against Gateshead Leam Rangers.

We asked a collection of the team for their highlights so far, which you can read below.

In this weekend’s issue of The Mariner, our matchday programme, you can read many more favourite moments from another handful of the squad!

Alliyah Ali: “My favourite moment has to be the 2-1 win against Harrogate. We left it last minute to try to score two goals, and because of the resilience within our squad, we picked ourselves up and scored two brilliant goals. The atmosphere was amazing on the pitch and off the pitch."

Phoebe Dixon: “Everyone in the team has been really welcoming and I loved getting the chance for my first minutes on Sunday (against Leam Rangers). I'm looking forward to the rest of the season.”

Jade Dryden: “My highlight of the season so far is probably getting two goals in two games - both coming on as a late sub in each game (Wakefield away in the league and Spennymoor away in the County Cup).”

Monica Innes: “Mine would be the resilience and togetherness we showed during the Bradford game.”

Ebony Longstaff: “My favourite moment was either my debut at Hull United when I also scored; it was a good day, great win and good start to my time with Shields and the girls. And definitely watching the girls win at 1st Cloud against Hartlepool. Mint performance, I loved watching it!

Ellie White: “My favourite part of the season has just genuinely been enjoying my football again, and really working hard on and off the pitch to help the team as much as I can, and trying to find my confidence again as a player which the girls and all the coaching staff are really helping with."

Jen Wootten: “One of my favourite matches was against Hartlepool at 1st Cloud in September. Although I didn’t start the match, I went on as a sub and scored two goals. It’s always good to go on and make an impact, and a bonus scoring in front of a home crowd. I think that game really highlighted what we can do as a team."

Meg Archbold: “I’d say my favourite moment of the season so far was our 9-0 against Hartlepool at 1st Cloud; it felt really good to score and it was just such a high for us as a team.”

Erin Taylor: “My favourite moment would be scoring my first goal (against Harrogate at home a fortnight ago)."