05-Nov-2011 Consett 4 South Shields 3

1 - Cunningham
2 - Smith
3 - Talbot
4 - Scope
5 - Bell
6 - Chapim
7 - Wightman
8 - Barclay
9 - Ramsey
10 - Fitzpatrick
11 - Colvin

12 - Kirkup
13 - Rodenby
14 - Burnell
15 - Morris
16 - Anzevui

The home side started slightly the brighter of the teams and were first to threaten when Burrell burst through from midfield on 7 minutes, however instead of squaring for the wide open Michael MacKay he chose to shoot and his effort was blocked.

Mackay wasn't to be denied however and only a minute later he latched onto a long Harrison

Davies ball and although his shot was well blocked by Jamie Scope the ball continued it's path towards the goal and the combined efforts of Scope and keeper Jake Cunningham could only help it over the line.

The lead was short lived though as Shields equalised with their first attack of note on 11 minutes. Full back Barrie Smith found himself in an advanced position on the right wing and his searching cross found the head of Stephen Ramsey and although Barry Poskett made a good save from the centre forward, David Colvin was on hand to finish the rebound from no more than 5 yards.

A high scoring game looked on the cards with both sides looking shaky at the back and sure enough on 17 minutes Harrison Davies again played Michael MacKay clean through on goal and the in form striker buried his shot in the bottom right hand corner.

Mackay scores Consett's second

South Shields did come back into the game and 5 minutes before the break Stephen Ramsey twice headed just wide in the space of 60 seconds but Consett went into the break 2-1 up.

Fitzy holds off the challenge

The second half started quite flatly but it burst into life on 53 minutes with a goal from Dale Burrell to make it 3-1. Davies gained possession and was able to advance further than he should have been able due to defenders backing off. Davies squared to Burrell 30 yards out and the midfielder promptly smashed the ball into the top right corner.

It was almost 4-1 on 57 minutes when Walton fired in a shot from 12 yards that hit the bar.

Consett seemed content to sit on their lead at this point and Shields began to dominate possession and noticeably grow in confidence. The Steelmen started to look nervous in defence and the inevitable happened on 72 minutes when after numerous failed attempts to clear their lines, Jonny Wightman sent in a cross from the right hand side and David Colvin doubled his tally for the aftenoon with a neat volleyed finish.

Just as it looked as though the home side could be in for a torrid final period, Robson hit a diagonal pass to Hutchinson and just as the wideman looked as though he was about to shoot, he cut the ball back to Walton, who, with the help of a post, made no mistake to make it 4-2 on 75 minutes.

Consett finally looked as though they would see the game out in comfort and although Shields got a third in the third minute of stoppage time through a looping Lee Bell header, there was barely time to kick off again and an entertaining game finished 4-3 to the home side.

31-Oct-2011 Gateshead 3 South Shields 0

1 - Ball
2 - Smith
3 - Talbot
4 - Scope
5 - Bell
6 - Chapim
7 - Morris
8 - Barclay
9 - Ramsey
10 - Burnell
11 - Wightman

12 - Galas
14 - Cunningham
15 - Fitzpatrick

South Shields made the trip to the International Stadium for this Durham Challenge Cup match against Gateshead and the new management team can take plenty of heart from the performance.

Shields made a positive start and took the game to their hosts, and within the space of just a few minutes had carved out a number of chances.

Firstly Lee Bell went close in the 15th minute and on 18 minutes an effort was cleared off the Gateshead line as Shields continued to apply pressure on the home defence. Only a couple of minutes later Ramsey came close to giving the Mariners the lead but his header was inches wide of the target.

Gateshead went close on 25 minutes but a header was directed straight at Jonny Ball and on 32 minutes it was Shields back on the offensive as Denver Morris cut in and took a shot that went narrowly past the post.

A mistake in the Shields defence in the 38th minute saw Nathan Fisher turn his man and fire Gateshead into the lead against the run of play.

Shields were quickly into their stride again and Jonny Wightman's free kick brought out a fine fingertip save from Deasy in the Gateshead goal.

Right on half time Morris then went close with a header following a cross from Barrie Smith.

As the second half got under way Gateshead applied pressure on Shields in search of a second goal and the second goal duly arrived in the 75th minute when Nathan Fisher was allowed to run at the defence and was given too much space and Shields paid the price as Fisher fired the ball into the net.

Shields were forced into making two substitutions as both Jonny Ball and Stephen Ramsey picked up injuries. Jake Cunningham and Yanis Galas being their replacements.

Cunningham was soon called into action as he pulled off a great save in the 80th minute to deny Gateshead as their fitness was by this stage a telling factor. Gateshead eventually scored a third right on time after the Shields defence failed to clear the ball.

Although the scoreline was a convincing one, Shields can take heart from the fact that they played their part in an entertaining game and a very good first half.

29th Oct-2011 South Shields 1 Shildon 2

1 - Ball
2 - Smith
3 - Talbot
4 - Scope
5 - Kirkup
6 - Chapim
7 - Morris
8 - Brabbs
9 - Burnell
10 - Sweeney
11 - Wightman

12 - Ramsey
13 - Bell
14 - Galas
15 - Coe
16 - Cunningham

Pre-Match Gathering

Group Huddle

Jon Kings first game as manager of South Shields ended in disappointment as his side went down 2-1 against Shildon at Filtrona Park on Saturday.

Sean Sweeney had the first opportunity of the game for the home side following a good through ball by Wightman. Sweeney was one on one with the keeper before unleashing a shot that was well saved by Molyneux in the Shildon goal.

Sweeney tries the chip

Taking on allcomers

Shildon took the lead on 32 minutes when a long ball downfield was met by Gredziak, who although appearing offside, ran through to beat Jonny Ball in the Shields goal.

Shaping To Strike

And Shildon doubled their lead on 41 minutes when a free Kick downfield found Gredziak in the box who turned and laid the ball for Hughes to put the ball over the line.

Flying Tackle

The second half started slowly and it took the home side 20 minutes to create their first opportunity when Sean Sweeney struck the ball from 12 yards, but he was unable to get enough power on the ball.

Chapim Plays Twister

Shildon were to then have a goal disallowed on 70 minutes for a foul on Jonny Ball.

South Shields had loud claims for a penalty on 73 minutes for handball, but the referee waved the protests away.

Shields began to put the pressure on the Shields goal as the game entered its closing stages.

I'll take it from here!

On 84 minutes, Jonny Wightman ran at the defence before unleashing a shot from 20 yards which was well saved by Molyneux.

A minute later, a free kick taken by Wightman found the head of Jamie Scope who directed a head goalwards which was again saved by Molyneux.

Dan Kirkup was moved up front to support Tony Burnell and he was to make an instant impression, turning and shooting on the half volley, but the giant defender couldn't get enough power behind his shot.

Substitute Yanis Galas then had the ball in the back of the net, but his goal was disallowed for offside.

Galas Tries His Luck

The Mariners did grab a goal in the dying seconds when Dan Kirkup slammed the ball home from close range after a cross from the left landed at his feet in the box.

Kirkup fires home

22-Oct-2011 Billingham Town 5 South Shields 2

1 - Ball
2 - Smith
3 - Talbot
4 - Scope
5 - Kirkup
6 - Chapim
7 - Morris
8 - Fitzpatrick
9 - Benjamin
10 - Ramsey
11 - Barclay

12 - Wightman
13 - Briggs
14 - Southern
15 - Brabbs
16 - Cunningham

South Shields are out of the FA Vase after being comprehensively beaten at Billingham Town on Saturday.

Billingham took an early lead following a mistake in the Shields defence allowed Jamie Owens to hit a superb strike low into the net from 20 yards.

Stephen Ramsey had a chance to equalise within a minute but his strike was well blocked by the Billingham defence.

Shields best chance of the opening exchanges came on 14 minutes when a ball from Paul Talbot found Alex Benjamin who shot from 20 yards with a low curling drive that was just wide of the post.

Jamie Owens had the chance to double his goal tally with a header from 6 yards, but the Billingham number 10 put his effort wide of the post.

But Owens didn't have to wait long to grab his second goal when a misplaced pass by Dan Kirkup allowed Jamie Owens through. He put it under Jonny Ball to grab his second.

Just before half time, a free kick into the box was headed down by Dan Kirkup for Jonny Wightman, but his shot was over the bar.

Billingham made it 3-0 on 57 minutes following a corner which was driven in and met by the head of Nicky Martin who rose unchallenged to beat Jonny Ball in goal.

And the home side made it 4 - 0 five minutes later. Barry Smith brought down Nicky Martin in the box and the penalty was duly converted by Jamie Owens for his hat-trick.

It took Billingham only 1 minute to add a fifth goal with a superb 30 yard strike from Richard Walker into the top right hand corner of the Shields net.

Shields pulled a goal back on 66 minutes with a long range effort from Denver Morris that curled into the top right hand corner of the Billingham net.

Ten minutes later, Shields pulled another goal back on 75 minutes when a foul on Morris in the box allowed Alex Benjamin to convert from the penalty spot.

And Shields almost grabbed a third five minutes from time when some good skill by Wightman created a chance on goal for himself before unleashing a strike that hit the post and went out of play.