SSFC Women dealt harsh lesson in Norton Ladies defeat

South Shields Women were dealt a harsh lesson in their 5-1 defeat away to FAWNL Division One North side Norton Ladies on Sunday.

A relatively quiet opening 20 minutes was ended in dramatic fashion by Georgie Leech with her stunning free-kick from the half-way line.

Substitute Anna McArthur – who replaced Bianca Owens during the first half – made it two with only five minutes remaining before the break.

The hosts turned up the heat following the restart, as Louise Atkinson grabbed two goals in just under 15 minutes, while Eve Marshall got a goal of her own immediately afterwards.

Milly Cairns then pulled one back for the Mariners, a moment of consolation in otherwise a challenging game.

Shields were forced to show their defensive resilience in the overcast conditions, and skipper Jen Wootten impressed in particular at the back to break up play.

Julie Raffel had the visitors’ first real chance, just two minutes after the opener, as her shot from the left narrowly flew wide.

Tianna Hill managed to replicate Raffel’s effort, this time from the other side, with the same outcome – just wide of the post.

Hill then threatened goalkeeper Laura Wareham, although her shot was guided right at the assertive shotstopper.

Norton quickly grew into the game when play restarted and put three past Shields by the 67th minute, though there was a small moment of joy when Cairns got on the scoresheet late on.

It was a challenging game, but one in which the team can learn a lot from.

The lasses look forward to their next pre-season trip, this time to Hartlepool United Women on Thursday night – full details to come soon.

Norton Ladies (starting XI): Wareham, Forster, Rae, Burton, Owens, Atkinson, Patrick, Leech, Jamieson, Homan, Marshall.

Substitutes: Hamilton, Hedley, Heslop, Trialist, McArthur.

Goals: Leech (20’), McArthur (40’), Atkinson (49’, 66’), Marshall (67’).

South Shields Women (starting XI): Yeakey, Raffel, Wootten, Kubik, Ford, S. Sutton, McDonald, Cairns, Simpson, Hill, Killeen.

Substitutes: Miller, Reynolds, D. Sutton (all played).

Goals: Cairns (83’).