Raffel winner caps off SSFC Women’s dream day out

South Shields Women capped off one of their longest trips of the season with a 1-0 win in the Women’s FA Cup Third Round Qualifying against Wirral Phoenix on Sunday.

Julie Raffel made it count after she rattled the crossbar in the 73rd minute, a moment which defined the game and sent the Mariners through to the First Round Proper.

Shields endured a challenging 90 minutes against Wirral Phoenix, whose supporters turned out in their hundreds in Merseyside, but the lasses came out of it victorious.

The draw for the First Round Proper is due to be held imminently and more information will be shared on our social media pages when available.

Raffel fired Shields’ first chance of the game narrowly wide in the eighth minute, with her curling effort landing so close to the target.

Eve Jones forced the Wirral Phoenix goalkeeper into pulling off a save five minutes later; it was clear to see that Shields had started the game brightly.

Kristina Simpson, who made her first start for the First Team this season, put in a commendable display, especially when the momentum of the match swung in Wirral Phoenix’s favour.

Eve Parker almost got on the end of a threaded Neve Platt delivery, but she couldn’t get the final touch on what could have been a wonderful opportunity for the visitors.

While the Mariners appeared intent on dealing the hammer blow, that moment wouldn’t come until well into the second half.

Faye Killeen launched a ball into the box, which found Raffel who then slammed the crossbar, but fortuitously it landed back to her to nod it down into the net off the post.

It was a moment she will not forget in a hurry, as it proved to be the game’s only goal.

Shields were reduced to 10 players after Jen Wootten was handed a second yellow card in the minutes following the winner, meaning Annece Legg took the armband for the game’s remainder.

Brooke Ford put in a last-ditch tackle to deny a surefire Wirral Phoenix equaliser deep into added time, before Legg had another almost-certain goal tipped over the bar.

It was a hard fought and well deserved victory, which sees the lasses reach this stage of the tournament for the third successive season.

While the First Round Proper tie won’t be for a few weeks, Shields can instead look ahead to a visit to Ponteland United Women in the NERWFL Premier Division next time out.

Watch back the goal from this game here.

South Shields Women (starting XI): Simpson, D. Sutton, Wootten, Kubik, Legg, Raffel, Jones, McDonald, Platt, Reynolds, Parker.

Substitutes: Yeakey, Miller, Ford (played), S. Sutton (played), Cairns, Killeen (played), Gray.

Goals: Raffel (73’).