Shildon (Home): Northern League Division 1: Saturday 19th November 2011

Result: Marske United 2 Shildon 1     Scorers: Charlton, Thompson

Manager Paul Burton made just two changes from the side that came from behind in thrilling circumstances to win at South Shields a week earlier.  Goal scoring hero Karl Charlton replaced Jonathan Burton on the left hand side of midfield, whilst midfielder Tommy Marron made his debut in place of the injured Anthony Ormerod.

Shildon could have scored in the first minute when a short free kick from Craig Price found Steve Johnson wide of the right, with his shot just skimming the bar.
Following a scrappy opening, Danny Brunskill turned sharply on the edge of Shildon’s box on nine minutes and got a shot in which was deflected just wide for a clear corner, but incredulously to everyone’s astonishment the referee gave a goal kick.

Marske threatened again after 16 minutes following a good move that started with Benn Thompson who switched the ball to Charlton wide on the left.  He hit a lovely low hard ball across the face of goal which was just missed by Brunskill sliding in.

The Railwaymen opened the scoring in controversial circumstances just after the half hour mark when they found themselves two-on-one having broken the offside trap with ease.

Craig Price sent a long ball to Steve Johnson who cut into the box, and with only Andy Raw back covering, unselfishly squared to Chris Hughes who had tripped Raw in the box leaving him with an easy tap in that he just managed to scuff over the line.

Marske levelled on 38 minutes following hard work from Brunskill.  Having lost possession just outside the Shildon penalty area, he tracked back to bustle Justin Keegan off the ball and turn to pick out Charlton who gave Keith Finch no chance of saving his terrific drive at goal.

Just before half time Shildon thought they should have had a penalty, but the referee didn't agree and booked Craig Price for remonstrating.  Graeme Willey pulled off a terrific save to deny Hughes, and just as Danny Richmond lurked to head home the rebound, he was bundled over only for the ref to bizarrely blow in Marske’s favour.

Half-time:  Marske United 1v1 Shildon

The second half produced a thoroughly entertaining contest with both teams looking to grab the winner at every given opportunity, with the first action of note coming on 50 minutes as Hughes’ long ball forward fell to Nicholas Kane who’s cracking shot from the edge of the box crashed off the bar with Willey well beaten.

On 65 minutes, despite having three players surrounding him, Benn Thompson managed to flick a header into Shildon’s box for Charlton to latch onto, but Finch got out smartly and smothered the ball.

The Seasiders took the lead just a minute later with a simply superb goal.  Karl Charlton turned his marker inside out on the left touch line and played a neat one-two with Brunskill before rolling back the years to surge to the byline and deliver the perfect cross into the penalty area that was met by Thompson who thumped a brilliant header through the hands of Finch and into the back of the net off the underside of the crossbar.
Charlton’s purple patch was prematurely ended in time for the restart as he made way for Rob Jones in order to get to a Rhianna concert in Sheffield.

Brunskill was also replaced by Burton whose first action of the game was to pick up a yellow card for delaying a Shildon free kick.

United kept up the pressure on the Shildon backline, but it was the visitors who nearly drew level on 78 minutes when substitute Wayne Gredziak powered a free header at goal from six yards out, only for Derek Bradley to appear out of nowhere and clear off the line.

Two minutes later Willey pulled off another fine save to deny Hughes’ half volley from distance, but it was Marske who finished the match in the ascendancy as new signing Marron highlighted just why the club were so keen to capture his services.

On 87 minutes Jones gave the Shildon full-back the run-around before centring a low cross that Marron poked goalbound, only for Finch to make a low save to turn the ball around the post for a corner.

A minute later Bradley him up again but this time his effort clipped the post and bounced back straight into the arms of the relieved Finch.

Full-time:  Marske United 2v1 Shildon

Two wins in consecutive weekends has propelled Marske seven points above the relegation positions, and with upcoming fixtures against teams surrounding them, they have managed to hit form at exactly the right time.

Teams:

Marske United:  Willey, A.Raw, Wheatley, Marron, Carling, Taylor, Gell, Bradley (Roberts), Brunskill (Burton), Thompson, Charlton (Jones).  Not Used:  Ormerod.

Shildon:  Finch, Christensen, Hunter, Ellison (Gredziak), Maddison, Keegan, Hughes, Richmond, Johnson, Price, Kane (Byrne). 

Not Used:  Nixon, Molyneux, Gordon.

Match Sponsors M/O/M:  Tommy Marron