South steal a march on the title
SHIELDS OF STEEL
FA VASE finalists South Shields stretched their winning run to 31 games with 10-men and took a major step towards the Northern League title after a crucial derby win. With North Shields unbeaten at home in the league and South Shields losing only once on their travels, something had to give on North Tyneside. It was the mother of local derbies, South Shields now level on points at the top with the Robins, who are now distinctly second favourites to lift the title. North Shields have played two games more and have a significantly inferior goal difference, the championship South Shields’ to lose. A bumper crowd of 1,575 witnessed David Foley’s single strike see the Mariners home and promotion to the Evo-Stik League. “If we win the next two games I think we’ve won the league. But first, I’m delighted about getting our first goal of the season [promotion],” said South Shields joint- manager Graham Fenton. “(Julio) Arca getting sent off made it difficult for us. You have to give massive credit to North Shields, not just today but the fight they have put up for the title this season – it has been fantastic. “We put the 31 wins to the side. Cliches are coming out at the minute but it’s just one game at a time for us.” Former Robins boss Fenton returned to his old club to inflict a first home league defeat of the season on them. The Mariners comfortably took a 1-0 lead into half-time following Foley’s 23rd minute long range strike. North Shields then struggled to get into the second half, though that briefly changed when Julio Arca received his marching orders for two yellow cards in four minutes. For the next five minutes, North Shields had their tails up. Dan Wilson had a shot deflected wide after cutting inside, the resultant corner seeing Kevin Hughes’ header blocked on the hour. North Shields boss Jon McDonald then threw on all his attacking substitutes in the last 20 minutes, but the Mariners held out. “When South Shields went down to ten, I thought we got a little bit of momentum at that stage but it never fell for us,” said McDonald. “It’s disappointing but we have two games left and we owe it to ourselves and the club to finish strongly.”