Ladies 8-0 South Shields

Newly converted centre back to striker Lindsey Whitton grabbed five goals as Harrogate Town Ladies ran out 8-0 winners against South Shields in the North East Regional league to bounce back from last week’s FA Cup heartache against Chorley in style.

Beth Davies, Em Crispin and Grace Adams were the other scorers in Town’s first league win of the season.

There may have been a few raised eyebrows at The CNG Stadium as the team news broke an hour before kick-off, with Manager Jon Maloney opting to play defender Whitton up front in the absence of Sophie Tinson.

It didn’t take long for Maloney’s team selection to pay off as in the seventh minute, Whitton guided a header over the visiting keeper just inside the oppositions box to open the afternoon’s scoring.

Town were playing very attacking brand of positive football against a South Shields side who had been dubbed one to watch in the league this season.

In the 38^th and 39^th minute Town’s positive play came to fruition as substitute Em Crispin pulled off a lovely finish to double the score line for the afternoon before Whitton curled in an effort over the keeper just a minute later.

In the second half, Town showed no sign of slowing down as in the 56^th minute another lovely patient attacking move was finished off by Beth Davies via a rebound from her original effort to put Town four to the good.

Minutes later just before the hour mark Whitton would complete her hat-trick as Adams picked her out in the middle as the defender/now striker pulled off a cool finish to grab her third.

Whitton would strike twice again before the whistle (65^th and 88^th minute) either side of a Adams first time finish (68^th minute) to complete the afternoons scoring and give Harrogate Town Ladies their first win the league this season.

Kelly Jackson-Powell, Georgia Marsden, Rebecca Wilson, Beth Clayton, Grace Foyer, Rachel Mcdonald, Rosie Gill, Beth Davies, Lindsey Whitton, Grace Adams, Holly Smith

Subs - Em Crispin, Rebecca Davies, Elisha James

Goals: Whitton 7, 39, 59, 65, 88 Crispin 38, Davies 56, Adams 68

Report by Isaac Martin