15th November 2008 Northern League Division 1 - Billingham Synthonia 2 South Shields 2

Billingham Synthonia: 1) B.Escritt. 2) A.Clough. 3) D.Barnes. 4) M.Cater. 5) D.Abel (c). 6) M.Casey. 7) C.Perry. 8) C.Hignett. 9) J.Magowan. 10) C.Iley. 11) M.Jameson.

Subs. S.Baynes. L.Brown. A.Harbron. T.Masters. D.Yale.

South Shields: 1) A.Clark (c). 2) J.Oates. 3) D.O'Brien. 4) M.Rodenby. 5) K.Jarvis. 6) G.Reay. 7) S.Fitzpatrick. 8) C.Ellison. 9) W.Crew. 10) J.Wightman. 11) A.Davis.

Subs. S.Parkin. T.Coe. C.Feasey. G.Irving. J.Perry.


Another superb turn out from the Shields supporters on a bright sunny day, with a healthy queue at the refreshments window. Pies didn't last long today. :o)

As the teams took to the field it was noticed Synthonia had a new signing turning out, in the form of former Middlesbrough, Blackburn & Barnsley (among a host of other clubs) forward Craig Hignett. So straight away, an already hard fixture was looking to be even more of a challenge. However straight from the kick off the Mariners forced Billingham onto the back foot and almost took a sensational lead in the first minute when Willie Crew broke down the right and got a good pass inside to Jonny Wightman and he hit it first time and the ball came back off the near post.

Shields weren't to be denied though as they took the lead in the 4th minute after Wightman received the ball in space in the middle of the pitch and came forward before unleashing a powerful drive from 25 yards out. The keeper really should have saved it but only succeeded in palming the ball up and over his head and into the net. The keeper possibly lost the flight of the ball as the low sun shone in his eyes, but what does it matter? Shields were ahead. :o)

Shields had started the game strongly and kept up the early pressure as they forced the home side onto the back foot time and time again and on 15 minutes Ash Davis played a fine ball through to Wightman and his shot produced a fine save out of Escritt in the Billingham goal. The home side came back and had two close efforts in quick succession as firstly Iley saw his first time shot blocked by the Shields defence and from the resulting corner Craig Perry played the ball inside to Magowan but his shot on the the turn was blocked and cleared.

Shields then came back and to the delight of the travelling Mariners' supporters, extended their lead in the 21st when Michael Rodenby put a long ball through to Craig Ellison, who wrong-footed a defender and cut inside onto his left foot and with all the confidence in the world picked his spot high into the left corner of the net for a very well taken goal. Billingham tried to counter this good start from the visitors but generally Shields were handling most of the home attacks quite comfortably. On the half hour Wightman got himself into a shooting position but shot wide of the target. Without a doubt though, Wightman was having his best performance for Shields since joining, and new boy Glenn Reay was also having an outstanding match.

Shields were then forced into making a change when Karl Jarvis was injured and was replaced by Graham Irving. In the 37th minute Billingham produced their most clear cut chance of the match when Hignett broke away and put Iley away down the right and as the forward bore down on the Shields goal, Andy Clark stayed on his feet and parried the shot away. Shields however came back again and forced a free kick in a promising position in the 39th minute. The kick was taken bt Rodenby but although on target, the keeper was able to get across and gather the ball safely. So the half time whistle blew with Shields well worth their two goal lead. :O)

Billingham made a couple of changes at the break and started the second half with Harbron and Yale replacing Barnes and Clough and within 40 seconds of the half they had reduced the arrears. Shields defenders really should have cleared the ball away in their right back position, but gave possession away cheaply and the cross came in from Iley, and helped on by Magowan and the ball eventually reached Hignett unmarked at the back post and his shot found the back of the net despite a despairing attempt to keep the ball out by a Shields defender. :O(

On the hour Shields had a great chance to stretch their lead again, and it would have possibly been a killer goal, as Willie Crew beat the offside trap and was away clear with only the keeper to beat. He placed his shot wide of Escritt, but also agonisingly wide of the left hand post. After this miss , Billingham started to press forward with more purpose and Iley went close with a glancing header that flew just wide of the left hand post. Despite this pressure from the home side. Shields were playing some very good stuff on the break and could have again snatched that third goal when Crew, Ellison and Wightman were denied by blocks by the home defenders and goalie.

In the 80th minute Synthonia eventually drew level when they were awarded a free kick just outside the box in a central position. It appeared to be a harsh decision by the referee asn two players went in for a 50/50 ball and O'Brien looked to have cleared fairly, but the referee thought otherwise. After the Shields wall was set up, up stepped Craig Hignett to curl a left footed shot high into the top left corner of the net. Three minutes later it looked as though Billingham had completed a full comeback and turnaround as Hignett floated a free lick out on the left into the net, but the linesman held the flag aloft. Was it offside? Was it a foul? No one knew for sure, but the scoreline remained level. :O)

In the remaining minutes both sides pushed for the winner and in stoppage time Willie Crew fired in a shot that Escritt in the home goal superby tipped over the bar. So it ended 2-2, and before the game we would have probably settled for that, but coming out we just couldn't help feeling we'd been short-changed by that free kick that pulled Billingham level. However this was a very good display by Shields and the travelling Mariners' supporters gave the lads a rousing reception as they came off the pitch. :O)