FOLEY DELIVERS KEY BLOW
Picton beaming at performance
SOUTH SHIELDS maintained their 100 percent home record in the Evo-Stik Premier Division as they narrowly beat ten-man Gainsborough at Mariners Park.
After losing their last four away games, conceding 11 goals, home comforts were again the order of the day, though they were given a helping hand.
The first real action of the game came late in the first half and it was pivotal - Trinity striker Ross Hannah seeing red for a dangerous challenge on Josh Gillies.
David Foley then scored the decisive goal in first half stoppage time, giving Shields some breathing space going into what was a goalless second period.
“To win six from six at home is tremendous” said Shields joint manager Lee Picton. “If we only rely on our home form we won't get where we want to get though”.
Speaking about the red card, he said “I'm being really honest, it was on the other side of the pitch from where we were, so it's difficult to make a judgement.
“We are blessed at the football club with the crowds we get. We really want to give something to the fans who travel home and away.
"We need to start winning those away games and give the fans something to smile about on the way home."
Following an uneventful opening 43 minutes it was a red card that truly got the game going, Hannah's red mist giving Trinity a blow from which they never recovered.
This opened the game up for Shields who scored soon after. Foley received Rob Briggs' superb through ball and slotted home from a tight angle after rounding the goalkeeper Jon Stewart.
Ten-man Gainsborough were close to an equaliser just before the hour but Neil Austin’s inswinging cross dipped onto the top of the bar.
Foley thought he had scored again soon after but his tap-in from Carl Finnigan’s rebound was ruled out for offside.
A change was needed on 66 minutes for Trinity following an injury to Stewart, who was replaced between the posts by centre-back Nathan Stainfield.
“I can split that game into two halves” said Gainsborough manager Lee Sinnott. “Pre sending off and post sending off. It was quite a tough game in some aspects.
“I wasn’t happy with the performance before the sending off.”