Tough workout for The Heed at Vase winners

South Shields 1 Gateshead 1

FA Vase winners South Shields gave National League club Gateshead their toughest work out so far in pre-season.

Newly-promoted Shields played like a side who will struggle to remember their last defeat after a 38-game unbeaten run.

That was back in November against derby rivals North Shields, and it was a well-oiled Mariners machine on show at Mariners Park.

A bumper crowd of 1,449 saw former Heed hit man Jon Shaw fire the home side into an early lead.

Gateshead had virtually two different sides in each half and it took something special from Middlesbrough loanee Robbie Tinkler to level the scores.

The Boro midfielder arrowed a shot into the top corner on the hour to stretch the Heed’s unbeaten pre-season run to four games.

A competitive game played at a good tempo - the opening half hour was more like a cup-tie - was marred by sporadic crowd trouble.

“It’s disappointing because it’s been a good game,” said Gateshead assistant manager Lee Nogan. “The players certainly did their bit.

“But some fans have spoilt it at the end with stupidity. It shouldn’t happen in this day and age, it’s marred a good game and it’s not good for the area.

“It’s not good for football either. It will be focused on rather than the game, which is a shame as it was a good work out.

“South Shields are a strong team. We got off to a bad start and first half weren’t good South Shields celebrate winning the Buildbase FA Vase Final at Wembley and inset, Gateshead manager Neil Aspin enough. The front men need to work harder. “It was totally different in the second half. We were comfortable throughout, bossed possession and it was a great finisher from Tinkler. “We put an extra man in midfield and two up top and while we didn’t create a lot we bossed the half and were comfortable.” The Mari- ners had Gateshead all at sea in the early exchanges, Shaw tapping home from close range from Alex Nicholson’s cut-back.

A JJ O’Donnell free-kick was saved at full stretch by Liam Connell at the other end, Nicholson forcing a similar save from Dan Hanford.

Shields were afforded too much time and space, their short and long game impressive as the Heed searched for similar fluidity.

Parity was restored on the hour when Huddersfield Town loanee Fraser Horsfall won the ball near half way and Tinkler produced a sublime finish.

Chances were then few and far between though Shields had the chance to win at the death only to shoot past the angle.

“We played some really good football in the first half,” said Mariners joint-manager Lee Picton. “And we more than matched Gateshead.

“This is a really encouraging sign looking forwards. We brought some academy players on in the second half and they applied themselves well.”