Mariners in control after Briggs brace

SOUTH SHIELDS 3 ATHERTON 1

ROBERT Briggs is flying at the moment in South Shields colours.

Briggs hit a brace in Tuesday’s FA Trophy victory over Farsley Celtic – which included a dramatic late winner in extra time.

And the Mariners’ midfielder emerged as the difference once more with another two goals to see off Atherton Collieries.

South Shields’ opener presented itself two minutes before half-time, though there was a question as to whether Briggs meant his 25-yard effort.

Less than a minute after the break, Atherton caught the Mariners slacking as Glenn Matthews levelled.

In the 58th minute, Briggs stepped over a free-kick to pick out the top corner.

Four minutes later, the Mariners should have been out of sight but Carl Finnigan saw his penalty saved by Adam Reid.

The Mariners survived any Atherton scares with substitute Jamie Holmes making sure of the three points when he capitalised on a half-cleared Briggs free-kick. SOUTH SHIELDS: Connell, Nicholson, Callaghan, Lough, Morse, Storey, Smith (Holmes), Briggs, Cogdon, Richardson, Finnigan Subs not used: Norton, Baxter, Holmes, Sullivan ATHERTON COLLIERIES: Reid, Cooke, Peet, Messer, Lafferty (Messer), Lynch, Mason, Holt (Smith), Cover, Howard, Hardcastle Subs not used: Lambert, Woods, Matthews, Forbes