Moors Ladies suffered a disappointing defeat at South Shields as the new NERWFL Premier Division season began with a 4-1 reverse at Harton Welfare.

Under the watch of Gavin Cogdon, four players were handed starting debuts against Shields, who finished fourth just behind Moors in the table last term.

The hosts started the better and made good of their early promise on seven minutes when Moors made a meal of clearing the ball and that allowed Aneece Legg to rifle home the opening goal.

Autumn Colledge almost drew Moors level on the quarter-hour when she spun swiftly on the edge of the box only to see her low drive flash just wide of the post.

However, the leveller did arrive on 21 minutes. A corner into the box from the right was worked back out to Hannah Knox and she dangled an inviting ball into the far post where Becca Drinkald converted for 1-1.

Unfortunately, parity didn’t last long and Shields were back in front just before the half-hour mark when a ball over the top caught out the Moors defence and Sophie Greener kept her composure to score.

Amy Richardson almost marked her Moors debut in style when a dipping volley from 20 yards dropped just wide, while Katy Hemmingway got a sight of goal down the left only to be denied by the home keeper.

Keeper Sophie Miller brilliantly tipped over a shot at the start of the second half as Shields again got on the front foot.

It was 3-1 to the hosts on 48 minutes when Eve Gatens was given too much space on the right and her teasing cross was headed powerfully home at the far post by Legg.

And Shields made sure of the points 10 minutes from time when more hesitant defending allowed Gatens in, and she finished clinically into the bottom corner for 4-1.

Full Time: South Shields 4 Moors 1

Moors: Miller, Knox (Foster 64), Drinkald (Gray 89), Newton, Enguita (Steele 46), Richardson, A Colledge, Doogan (Middleton 80), Elliott, Hemmingway, McIntosh.
Sub not used: Brischuk.