Alex Miller post-Wallsend BC: “We felt we had a point to prove!”

South Shields Women player/coach Alex Miller said her squad ‘had a point to prove’ on Sunday as the girls beat Wallsend BC 2-1 at home.

Sophie Greener opened the scoring to give the girls a 1-0 lead at the break, before Eve Gatens won the game with “another rocket of a free-kick” just before full time, giving Shields all three points.

The result keeps Shields in third in the NERWFL Premier Division as well as maintaining the girls’ run this season of never drawing a league match.

Miller believed the game was what she expected, and the preparation at training during mid-week certainly played its part in getting the win.

She said: “After last weekend’s disappointment, we felt we had a point to prove, so we focused on strengthening the togetherness of the team during training this week, and went back to basics.

“The lasses had two great sessions during the week and we went into the game feeling quietly confident.”

It was important not to repeat the same mistakes as last weekend when the second-half went completely different to the first, and Miller has reflected on that.

“The half time team talk centred around what had went well and what had went wrong last week – we wanted to make sure history didn’t repeat itself”, she added.

“The start of the second half was a little unsettled initially, and we conceded through a decent set play.

“However, unlike last weekend, the lasses showed their winning mentality and did not let their heads drop.

Gatens was the hero for Shields once again, and through a free-kick just like against Wakefield last Sunday.

She added: “The lasses grouped together, dug their heels in and were rewarded with another rocket of a free kick by Eve Gatens. The feeling was unreal when that winning goal went in!

“Overall it was a complete team performance both on and off the pitch and has put us back on the winning path!”

The girls are next in action against Harrogate Town Ladies at home on 16 April (2pm kick-off).