Comeback stuns Mariners’ visitors
STRIKERS are worth their weight in gold – and nobody needs to tell that to South Shields’ manager Kevin Phillips.
The Sunderland legend routinely found the net throughout a 20-year playing career – but he would have done well to have witnessed a remarkable second-half display from JJ Hooper that helped his side to a hard-earned win against Nantwich Town.
First-half goals from Sean Cooke and Jacob Bickerstaff looked to have condemned the Mariners to a shock defeat.
But Hooper’s stunning four-goal second-half salvo ensured his side came from behind to move three points clear at the top of the Premier Division table.
The Mariners controlled all of the early play but struggled to create a meaningful opportunity to reward their dominance.
Their only sight of goal came with 11 minutes on the clock when JJ Hooper rose to meet a corner kick form Nathan Lowe but could only send his header over the crossbar from around 10 yards.
The Dabbers got themselves in front just minutes later as they took full advantage of a good decision from referee Chris Joyce.
The official chose to allow play to continue and played advantage following a foul on Dabbers midfielder Joe Robbins as his side set off on a quick counter-attack.
That ended when Akiel Raffie broke into the area and was upended by Mariners defender Jack Bodenham.
Sean Cooke stepped up to take the resultant penalty and made no mistake with a cooly taken spot-kick that was stroked down the middle of the goal.
South Shields reacted well to falling behind with the lively Mitch Rose going close twice in quick succession with a shot curled over the bar and a header into the side netting.
Those missed opportunities were punished in fine style by the visitors as they doubled their lead midway through the half.
There seemed little danger when striker Jacob Bickerstaff was left stranded on his own on the left-hand side of the Mariners area.
But the visitors number nine skipped beyond two weak defensive challenges before rolling the ball beyond Mariners keeper Myles Boney and inside his far post.
Just as they had prior to both goals, Kevin Phillips’ side retained their control of possession – but they were limited to half-chances as Nathan Lowe curled a shot wide and then saw a low, driven cross evade JJ Hooper at the far post.
The frustration levels among the home faithful in the stands were matched on the pitch as Phillips and his players left the pitch at half time knowing they had it all to do in the second 45 minutes.
Turning possession into real chances – and ultimately goals – was to be their clear aim when play resumed.
The Mariners were presented with a golden opportunity to halve the deficit within 10 minutes when a Nathan Lowe shot was blocked by the hand of Dabbers defender Matthew Bell.
A penalty was somewhat harshly awarded but Robert Briggs failed to capitalise as he sent the spot-kick against the far post.
But the passing of the hour mark brought fresh hope as Hooper came to the fore with a goalscoring burst that will be remembered for a long time to come.
The former Newcastle United academy striker got things going when he tapped home from close range after Hodgson had broken in on goal and
dinked the ball beyond the advancing Gould.
Parity was restored less than two minutes later when Hooper doubled his tally with an expertly taken header from a stunning cross by Nathan Lowe.
The pressure continued to flow the way of the visitors area as Briggs curled a shot just beyond the far post, and Gould produced an awkward looking save from a Jordan Hunter cross-shot.
But the Mariners would not be denied and they finally got themselves in front with six minutes remaining as Hooper completed his hat-trick.
Once again, Lowe was the creator as his cross from the right was met by a powerful header by Hooper that left Gould grasping at thin air.
A remarkable individual display was complete in the closing stages as Briggs found space midway inside the visitors half and played Hooper in on goal.
Almost inevitably, the striker took his time before looping a shot over Gould and into the net to wrap up a stunning turnaround that had boosted his side’s title hopes.
SOUTH SHIELDS: Boney, Hunter, Adams, Shaw, Morse, Bodenham, Lowe, Rose, Hodgson (Osei), Briggs, Hooper Subs: Jenkins, Mcgowan, Tee, Kempster
NANTWICH TOWN: Gould, Sinclair (Cockerline), Devine (Edwards), Bourne, Langley, Bell, Raffie, Robbins, Bickerstaff, Miller (Malkin), Cooke Subs: Heath, Montefiori