NON-LEAGUE

SOUTH Shields are now eight points behind Ebac Northern League Division One leaders North Shields with three games in hand after a 2-1 win at Sunderland RCA – their 28th victory in a row.

RCA took a seventh-minute lead through Ross Preston, when his backpost header beat goalkeeper Peter Jameson and found the net.

Two minutes before half-time Shields were reduced to 10 men when Alex Nicholson was shown the red card after an off-the-ball incident.

On the hour mark, Shields were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box and Julio Arca curled in a brilliant equaliser. Eight minutes later, Gavin Cogdon put The Mariners in front with a close-range goal following a corner.

Keeper Jameson made two great saves in the dying minutes to thwart the hosts and preserve South Shields’ incredible winning run. Shildon entertained Penrith at Dean Street and moved back up to third in the table with a 5-1 home win.

The hosts went ahead in the fourth minute, when Amar Purewal latched on to a through-ball and rounded goalkeeper Jonny Jamieson before tapping home.

Ten minutes later Purewal scored his second, and just a minute later Michael Rae volleyed home to make it 3-0.

Shildon goalkeeper Nick Liversedge saved from Martyn Coleman and Robbie Hebson, but the visitors’ pressure paid off in the 34th minute.

Kevin Connelly was fouled in the box and Coleman scored from the spot.

Five minutes into the second half Purewal completed his hat-trick, and Lewis Wing made it 5-1 late on.