BAXTER SENDS THE TRAVELLING FANS WILD

WHITBY TOWN 0 SOUTH SHIELDS 1

A DOMINANT secondhalf display, assisted by a galeforce North Sea wind, saw South Shields eventually defeat their coastal rivals thanks to Craig Baxter's low drive.

A quiet first period saw neither goalkeeper truly tested, but the hosts were firmly under the cosh after the interval. It was a former Whitby player, Lee Mason, who came closest, with a ferocious effort from distance that slammed against the underside of the Blues' bar and bounced on the goal line.

Another great chance then fell to the ex-North Shields star who fired across goal and well wide from six yards. As the Mariners won corner after corner, former Blyth Spartans centrehalf Dylan Morse somehow nodded a free header wide point-blank.

However, the 500-plus travelling support were sent into rapture, eleven minutes from time.

Right-back Baxter, who carved a niche at Gateshead for knowing the way to goal, found space on the right edge of the Whitby penalty area before arrowing an unstoppable shot across Adam McHugh and inside the bottom-left corner.

At the other end, Lewis Maloney struck straight at McHugh's opposite number, Liam Connell, who held comfortably.

Whitby's busy backline blocked on the line from another Mason effort, late on.

STAR MAN: Nathan Lowe (S.Shields) ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★