Win means Mariners’ title hopes not sunk
MICKLEOVER 1 SOUTH SHIELDS 3
SOUTH Shields are up against it when it comes to the Evo-stik NPL Premier Division title race.
But don’t expect The Mariners to be giving up anytime soon.
A 3-1 win at Mickleover Sports saw Graham Fenton and Lee Picton’s side display a number of the characteristics that have helped them to three consecutive promotions.
There was grit, skill and a ruthlessness that will serve them well in the crucial weeks ahead.
They were “at it” from the off and took a deserved lead on eight minutes with a goal from Craig Baxter.
The former Gateshead man collected a ball from Luke Daly before crashing a low drive past Sports keeper Lewis King from around 20 yards from goal.
The hosts reacted well to falling behind, but quickfire chances from Shaquille Mcdonald and Levi Amantchi saw both players fail to test Mariners keeper Liam Connell.
They were almost punished on 25 minutes when Robert Briggs came within inches of adding to his already impressive collection of stunning goals.
The Mariners midfielder caught out keeper King with a clever freekick, but the ball rebounded off the inside of the post before rebounding to safety.
It was to be temporary respite for the hosts as the pressure finally paid off.
Within 60 seconds of Briggs’ chance, Ben Harmison pounced on a loose ball inside the area and doubled his side’s lead with a simple finish from close range.
Nathan Jarman came close to halving the deficit just before the break, but an outstanding save from Connell ensured the Mariners took a two-goal advantage into the interval. That lead was stretched to three just before the hour mark when Harmison grabbed his second goal of the day.
Some fine work from David Foley saw the forward somehow clip a cross for the far post and the powerful striker gratefully accepted the invitation to tap the ball into the net from inside the sixyard box.
Again, the hosts reacted well after conceding and Jon Shaw was forced into some swift defensive action when he cleared a Jimmy Phillips shot from the goal-line after Connell had palmed an effort from Jarman. The Sports did pull a goal back on 81 minutes as substitute Tomas Junek’s powerful drive took a deflection and beat Connell.
It was as good as it got for the hosts as the Mariners eased through the remaining nine minutes of the game and kept alive their hopes of a fourth consecutive league title.
Mickleover Sports: King, Tvaroh, Berry, Turner, Mcgrath(phillips), Ravenhill, Scott, Jarman, Mcdonald Amantchi Subs: Junek, Garnett, Boula South Shields: Connell, Baxter (Mouanda), Adams (Lough), Shaw, Morse, Turnbull, Mason (Gillies), Briggs, Harmison, Daly, Foley Subs: Thompson, Cogdon
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