Honours even against league leaders

SOUTH Shields wore a special 130th anniversary kit away at Nantwich Town, but only managed to take home a point from The Weaver Stadium in a goalless tie.

Nantwich almost spoiled the party early on as they were awarded a penalty in the 22nd minute – goalkeeper Liam Connell bringing down Callum Saunders in the box.

Danny Glover stepped up, but blasted it over the crossbar.

South Shields looked to pounce seven minutes into the second half with Nathan Lowe whipping a corner in, but Dillon Morse’s fine connection with his head could only find the side netting.

Connell may have given away the NANTWICH TOWN SOUTH SHIELDS 0 0 earlier penalty, but he was back to the rescue for the Mariners in the early stages of the second half – making a superb save to keep out Sean Cooke’s 30-yard rocket.

Jon Shaw almost had South Shields in front with a header on 67 minutes from substitute Josh Gillies’ corner, but ‘keeper Will Jaaskelainen was on hand to save. Gillies fired another tremendous cross into the box a few minutes later, but no one was able to add the finishing touch.

The final 15 minutes brought a barrage of end-to-end attacks, but neither team could capitalise.

David Foley almost netted for the visitors in the last minute of the added four, but captain Joel Stair pressured just enough to have the striker fire into the side netting. The result sees South Shields remain in seventh in the Evostik Premier Divison, with Nantwich at the top of the table.

SOUTH SHIELDS: Connell, Baxter, Adams, Shaw (c), Morse, Turnbull, Cogdon (Gillies), Briggs, Mason (Foley), Finnigan, Lowe (Brown). NOT USED: Mouanda, Harmison. NANTWICH TOWN: Jaaskelainen, Morgan, Barnes, Stair, Mullarkey, Bell, Mwasile (Hughes), Lawrie. Glover (Malkin), Cooke, Saunders. NOT USED: Bourne, Cotterell, Jones