ALL-SQUARE BUT AGGRO MARS DAY
THIS was a fiercely fought North East derby on the pitch – but sadly marred by crowd trouble off it.
FA Vase winners South Shields showed just why they had gone 38 games unbeaten since November, 37 of them wins.
The slick-moving Mariners were excellent, National League side Gateshead all at sea in the opening exchanges.
Former Heed hitman Jon Shaw, now a centre-half, tapped home to give Shields a third-minute lead.
Gateshead made nine changes at halftime and were level when on loan Middlesbrough schemer Robbie Tinkler scored from distance.
In the end, neither side could force a winner in front of a bumper 1,450-strong crowd, trouble on the terraces marring an entertaining afternoon.
A minor flare-up during the game was followed by fighting among small numbers afterwards, a lack of stewarding and alcohol contributing factors.
“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.
“South Shields are a good team and have players that can play higher. We got off to a bad start and first half weren’t good enough.
“It was totally different in the second half. We were comfortable throughout, bossed possession and it was a great finisher from Tinkler.”
A confident, well-oiled Shields machine had plenty of joy down the right in the first half, Alex Nicholson’s pullback swept home by Shaw.
JJ O’Donnell had a free-kick tipped past the post by Shields keeper Liam Connell, Dan Hanford producing a similar save to deny Nicholson.
But when Huddersfield loanee Fraser Horsfall won the ball near halfway, Tinkler found the top corner with a beauty from 30 yards to level the scores.
“We played some really good football in the first half,” said Mariners joint-boss 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.”