Moors Ladies produced an astonishing late comeback to stun rivals South Shields and claim all three points at Harton & Westoe Miner’s Welfare on Sunday.
The game against Shields looked to be heading for stalemate with no goals registered midway through a scrappy encounter on a heavy pitch.
However, the hosts snatched the lead on 68 minutes only for Holly Doogan to win and convert a penalty to level things up before Sophie Hodgson won it with 10 minutes remaining.
Conditions made things difficult for both teams and chances were few and far between during a hard-fought first half on a pitch left boggy by the recent bad weather.
Things opened up a little at the start of the second half in which Shields started the brighter and created a couple of opportunities to have gone in front.
Doogan almost made an instant impact for Moors from the bench when good work from the forward almost resulted in an own goal, but the ball dropped just wide of the post.
The Mariners hit the front midway through the second period when Becki McMahon stooped to head home a delivery from the left as the home side placed themselves into the driving seat.
However, Moors produced a spirited response and equalised on 77 minutes when she was fouled in the box and kept her composure to tuck home from the spot.
It got even better for Hemmingway’s side three minutes later when Hodgson latched on to a ball in behind the Shields defence and sent a brilliant finish into the net for 2-1.
“It wasn’t easy,” admitted First Team Coach, Ella Beecham afterwards.
“We had to adjust how we played because of the conditions, but we got the narrow win and I’m happy for the players because they worked hard.
“We knew it was going to be difficult given the bad result we had against them last time at The Brewery Field, but we’re delighted and we’ll take a lot from that win.”
Moors will now enjoy some rest over a blank weekend before renewing their rivalry with Shields when they make the trip to face them again in the League Cup in two weeks.
Full Time: South Shields 1 Moors 2
Moors: Crawford, A Elliott, M Elliott, Norton, Hodgson, Richardson, Hemmingway, Wise, Reed, Robinson, Garcia.
Subs: C Colledge, Drinkald, Doogan, Zapata, Ingram.