A composed performance of silk and steel provided the perfect start to the season for Rotherham United Women.

Three first half goals, all scored by debutantes, paved the way to a deserved 4-1 victory at Harton and Westoe Miners Welfare, despite a second-half rally by the hosts.

Each of the goals was made and finished with quality as the new-look Millers began to click on Tyneside.

Rotherham had already hit the post through Eden Hinchliffe when winger Lauryn Wilcock opened the scoring on 18 minutes, racing clear down the left and fizzing a low drive beyond home keeper Anna Yeakey, who endured a busy afternoon.

Both Stacey Buxton and Hannah McWilliams were also denied by Yeakey before the South Shields equalised in freakish fashion. Forward Eve Jones miscued a shot at the far post and it looped agonisingly over Millers keeper Brooke McCrory.

The Millers responded almost instantly as McWilliams found the net with a screamer. The midfielder flicked the ball past her marker and then powered a controlled volley beyond Yeakey for a truly special strike.

With the wind in their sails, the lead was soon doubled, the pacy Jasmine Saxton taking McWilliams’ pass in her stride before slotting calmly home.

Half-time: South Shields Women 1-3 Rotherham United Women 

Photo by Craig McNair

The second half was a more even affair, with the teams trading chances.

Midweek signing Laura Bartup came close to a debut goal with one fierce drive, and McCrory pulled off a stunning stop to tip Julie Raffel’s rising drive onto the bar.

With 17 left on the clock, sub Sophia Swan added the icing on the cake, forcing Yeakey into a save, seizing on the loose ball and rolling home.

There was still time for McCrory to beat away another fierce shot and for the woodwork to be rattled again as Gracie Lucas curled a 20-yarder onto the crossbar.

Attacking right to the end, the Millers were full value for their opening day win and can look forward to welcoming Spennymoor to Rotherham next weekend with confidence high.

Full time: South Shields Women 1-4 Rotherham United Women

Starting XI: Brooke McCrory, Eden Hinchliffe, Pip Cassidy, Sidni Simmons, Freya Rattenbury, Hannah McWilliams, Lauryn Wilcock, Lauren Winter; Caitlyn Douglas, Laura Bartup, Jas Saxton.

Subs: Evie Manley, Erren Davies, Stacey Buxton, Gracie Lucas, Sophia Swan.