McMahon: SSFC Women were “nowhere near our best” against Wallsend BC

Assistant head coach Becki McMahon said that South Shields Women were “nowhere near our best” following the side’s 3-0 defeat to Wallsend BC Women.

Michaela Sewell struck twice in the first half before Jessica White followed it up in the second half to put the Mariners to the sword.

The rain, which had called off a few games in the region, could have played its part but McMahon insists that can’t be labelled as an excuse.

She said: “The puddles weren’t ideal and did make it hard to play at times but it was the same for both teams and not really something we can use as an excuse. 

“1st Cloud is an unreal pitch and the girls love playing there; unfortunately the weather spoiled it a bit today! 

“We were nowhere near our best today. The performance was miles away from last week's against Spennymoor. 

“It didn’t feel like we ever really got going. They wanted it more than us and they got their rewards for that.”

A disappointing first half for Shields was compounded by a dagger via White which put the game out of sight, but frustratingly that is the moment when McMahon feels Shields picked things up.

“I felt like the intensity and quality didn’t improve until after they scored their third and by then the game was gone,” she added. 

“[It] wasn’t until around the 70th minute [when] we finally started getting forward and looking more like the team we usually are. 

“If the reaction had come at half time, things might have been different!”

That result does make it very difficult for Shields to win the NERWFL Premier Division because of results elsewhere: Barnsley FC Women and Spennymoor Town Ladies both won.

It means Barnsley are five points ahead of the Mariners having played the same number of games (19), with just three games left.

The Moors are also five points in front, but they have played two more games (21 to 19).

“Obviously it looks like we won’t be winning the league unless a miracle happens, which we are gutted about,” she continued, “but we still have three games left and will be fully focused on finishing as high and as strong as possible.”

The lasses are back at 1st Cloud Arena this Wednesday when they face Alnwick Town Ladies in a bid to get back to winning ways (7:30pm kick-off).