Eve Gatens’ stoppage-time winner gave South Shields Women a 2-1 victory over Wallsend BC Women at Harton Welfare on Sunday.
The Mariners simply never gave up after going behind - Sophie Greener got the other goal for Shields to draw things level before the break.
A new addition to the team saw the first of the South Shields FC International Academy players, Ashley Townsend, make her debut and she started brightly.
A surging ball from Monica Innes found Townsend who burst through on goal, only to be stopped by Wallsend’s Amelia Kirkup at the final hurdle.
That would be one of many chances like it for the new arrival, who certainly made herself known out there.
She looped a ball above Kirkup a handful of minutes later, and it would have gone in if not for a last-ditch clearance by ex-Mariner Lily Walker near the goalmouth.
Townsend weaved in and around a handful of green and yellow players en route to the 18-yard box, but she was again stopped in her tracks by means of a challenge.
Despite that bright start, it would be the visitors who would take the lead, after a mix-up at the back saw Emily Atkinson lay it off to Erin Donachie in the box, who only needed to roll the ball in.
There were clear chances for Becki McMahon, Jaz Elliott-Wood, and a couple for Sophie Greener which came close, but none of them could quite get the goal Shields deserved.
That is, until the 31st minute, when Elliott-Wood reached Greener with an inch-perfect delivery, who nodded it in to extend her goalscoring streak to five matches, in all competitions, this season.
Shortly before half-time, Natalie May came agonisingly close to getting her first goal of the season, and it would have certainly been one to remember had it been inches lower.
Shields continued to pile the pressure after the break, and they could have taken the lead via a penalty, when Townsend was brought down in the box.
Her penalty was saved, but the Mariners got the goal they needed just shy of the final whistle.
Once again, Elliott-Wood got the assist as she eyed up Gatens who was free, and to say her finish was exquisite would be selling it short.
The scenes were something to behold, with a handful of seconds left on the clock, as the whole team got together to celebrate a job well done.
An exciting game on the road next week sees the lasses take on Bradford City Women. More details will be shared on the club’s social media channels in the coming days.
South Shields Women: Gowans, Mole, Innes, May, Greener, Gatens, White, McMahon, Norton, Elliott-Wood, Townsend.
Substitutes: Wootten, England, Naylor, Longstaff, Foster.
Goals: Greener (‘31), Gatens (‘90+1)
Wallsend BC Women: A. Kirkup, Walker, Barker, Johnson, Harron, Cairns, Atkinson, Adam, Mark, Sewell, Donachie.
Substitutes: Rikkerink, Cowen, E. Kirkup.
Goals: Donachie (‘11)
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