ZOE Mitchell fired in a hat-trick to keep Hull Tigers Ladies right in the promotion mix after twice coming from behind to inflict a 4-3 defeat on title rivals Castleford. Cas, the only team so far this season to beat the Tigers in the league back on the opening day in August, were leading 3-2 at the half-time break, but a second-half strike from Mitchell and a Rebecca Beech penalty helped to gain revenge.
Mitchell had put the Tigers 2-1 ahead with two neatly-taken goals, but Cas refused to lie down and Tigers manager Rachel Gay was delighted by her side's response.
She told the Mail: "It was nice to get a bit of revenge because we have been hurting from that first defeat of the season at their place, so it was nice to take the three points.
"Both teams played some excellent football, and it was a very physical game.
"Zoe Mitchell showed great speed and composure for her hat-trick, but Molly Storey was also a right handful on the right wing and certainly played her part with three assists."
Now sitting second in the North East division, five points behind leaders Norton and Stockton Ancients, who have played two games more, the Tigers are well placed at the halfway stage in their league season.
And whilst Mitchell may have taken the limelight with her hat-trick, Gay believes it was the experience of Rachel Cooke which was a deciding factor in the gutsy victory.
She added: "Sophie Etherington came on and changed the game for us, but it was Rachel who caught my eye in defence because her tackles were well timed and her positional play was outstanding.
"What was also pleasing was her willingness to overlap and get forward. When your right-back is getting into the box with only five minutes to go, you have to credit her work rate.
"But as a team we worked very hard for that win and we deserved the three points after showing great character and desire to come back after going behind twice."
The Tigers will be back in action with a derby clash at Scunthorpe next Sunday.
