South Shields (Away): Northern League Division 1: Saturday 12th November 2011

Result: South Shields 3 Marske United 4     Scorers: Wheatley, Burton, Charlton (2)

An incredible finish at Filtrona Park saw three goals in the last three minutes end with South Shields beaten by Marske United, despite the Mariners looking well set as they raced into a two-goal lead after just 20 minutes.

South Shields gave a debut to defender Mathew Soulsby signed from second division side Ryton, whilst Marske, without their suspended manager, welcomed the return of defenders Mark Taylor and Adam Wheatley, and midfielder Anthony Ormerod.

Shields started the better, passing the ball around well on the ground – but Marske should have led with just three minutes on the clock when Danny Brunskill tracked back to win the ball on the half way line and send a neat ball forward for Benn Thompson to run onto.  But the big striker failed to chip the ball past goalkeeper Jake Cunningham who blocked his effort at the expense of a corner.

But the home side continued to attack and deservedly led on 12 minutes when the Marske defence failed to deal with a routine ball into the box from the left wing.  The ball bounced across the penalty area and was left by everyone, allowing 5ft2 midfielder Chris Feasey too head in off the post.

Shields nearly doubled their lead four minutes later when Paul Talbot aimed a corner towards the near post.  Lee Bell got there first and headed towards goal but Graeme Willey blocked bravely at close range.

The Mariners increased their lead on 19 minutes with an excellent piece of passing football.  Debutant Soulsby was again involved, playing a neat one-two with Gilberto Chapim to sneak away down the right, and his pull back to Johnny Wightman on the edge of the box was clinically finished with a low drive.

United’s Thompson received his second good chance to score a minute later when his harassment led to Michael Rodenby failing to clear properly and the ball bounced back off Brunskill into the path of Thompson but he sliced a left footed effort well wide.

Shields should have made it three after 25 minutes when Feasey ghosted through the Marske midfield untracked to get onto the end of Soulsby’s ball in from the right, only to blaze his effort high and wide.

But Marske kept working hard and pulled a goal back on 29 minutes.  A free kick towards the Shields penalty area was headed down by Thompson to the feet of Adam Wheatley who controlled the ball before firing a shot just inside the far post from just outside the box.

And five minutes later the Seasiders were back level following a quick route one breakaway.  Andy Raw launched a diagonal cross field ball forward from his right-back position that was flicked on into the path of Jonathan Burton who drilled a first time shot at goal that Cunningham failed to keep out after taking a slight deflection off of Rodenby.

Half-time:  South Shields 2 v 2 Marske United

Marske started the second half on the front foot but nearly conceded on 49 minutes when Feasey dribbled through the centre of the park and set up Andrew Barclay to hit a shot that Willey did well to pick out of the air.

A minute later a deep cross into the box from Wheatley on the left was missed by the South Shields keeper whilst under pressure from Thompson and bounced just in front of the goal line, but Bell managed to head the ball out for a corner in the nick of time with Burton looking to pounce.

Marske remained in control and nearly took the lead on 74 minutes when pressure on the Shields defence resulted in Talbot losing the ball to Brunskill who found himself one-on-one with Cunningham but slipped the ball the wrong side of the keeper.

South Shields created two half chances at the other end before Brunskill again had a chance to win the match with six minutes left.  A ball played into his feet just inside the 18-yard box bounced up as he turned, so he thumped a half volley goal bound that Cunningham saved magnificently.  From the resulting corner, Thompson put a free header over the bar.

The game looked set to end that way until substitute Karl Charlton tapped in from Derek Bradley’s cross on 89 minutes to seemingly give the visitors all three points.

But Shields refused to lie down, and went straight up the other end to level through Barclay’s header.  Substitute Denver Morris was afforded way too much space on the right flank to pick out a cross towards Barclay who provided an inch perfect header beyond the helpless Willey.

Incredibly though, that wasn’t enough to give the Mariners a point as Charlton received the ball immediately after the restart to convert, and send Marske above Shields at the bottom of the table.

Ormerod somehow battled his way through several challenges on the right and centred for the unmarked winger to score his fifth goal in six games.

Full-time:  South Shields 3 v 4 Marske United

Marske manager Paul Burton said: “That must be the first time this season that we’ve had a little bit of luck, which I thought we deserved. We played well after we went 2-0 down.”

Shields secretary Phil Reay said: “It was an incredible end to the game. I don’t think anyone could quite believe it.”

Teams:

South Shields:  Cunningham, Soulsby, Talbot, Rodenby (Fitzpatrick), Bell, Chapim, Feasey (Morris), Barclay, Ramsey (Sweeney), Wightman, Colvin.  Not Used:  Coe, Galas.

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