27-Aug-2011 - Spennymoor Town 5 South Shields 0

1 - Cunningham
2 - Smith
3 - O'Brien
4 - Kirkup
5 - McAvoy
6 - Brabbs
7 - Pearson
8 - Ramsey
9 - Benjamin
10 - Burnell
11 - Colvin

12 - Fitzpatrick
13 - Houshby
14 - Hamilton

South Shields were comprehensively beaten by defending champions Spennymoor Town on Saturday at The Brewery Field.

Manager Gary Steadman stuck with the 3-4-3 formation that was so successful against Chester le Street in midweek and also gave debuts to Andy Brabbs in the centre of midfield and Michael Pearson on the right of midfield.

Spennymoor started brightly, pressurising the Shields defence from the kick off, but it was to be the visitors who were to have the first chance of the game when Tony Burnell produced some great work down the left before firing in a cross for Stephen Ramsey, but the striker was to shoot wide of the post.

Spennymoor then went close to opening the scoring on two occasions, but Jake Cunningham in the Shields goal denied them from from taking the lead.

On the half hour, a dangerous ball forward by David Colvin was aimed at Alex Benjamin, who stretched out a leg but Craig Turns in the Spennymoor goal turned it behind for a corner.

Further pressure was to come from Spennymoor and Cunningham was again to come to Shields rescue with some superb reflex saves.

But the home side’s pressure was to eventually result in the opening goal on the stroke of half time. The ball was played into the box, and collected by Craig Ruddy who controlled the ball, twisted and turned the Shields defence and beat Cunningham with a tame shot.

Two minutes into the second half and Spennymoor had doubled their advantage, when a dangerous ball into the box was met by the head of the superb Adam Johnston.

Shields were to try and get back into the game when a through ball from Tony Burnell found Alex Benjamin, but the Shields number 9 shot wide of the post.

But the game was to be put beyond Shields reach on 60 minutes when the ball landed at Leon Ryans feet in the box and he drove the ball home from close range to make it 3-0 to Spennymoor.

Ten minutes kater, Adam Johnston went agonisingly close to his second and Spennymoors fourth with a low curling shot from 25 yards, but it was wide of the Cunninghams post.

But on 77 minutes, Spennymoor did get a fourth when a cross from the left found substitute Sam Garvie, who had looked dangerous since his introduction, he controlled and fired the ball low into the bottom corner from 12 yards.

And moments later it was to be 5-0 following continued pressure on the Shields defence. The ball was delivered from the left hand side and came to John Alexander who took aim and struck the ball from 18 yards. His shot went through the defence and past Cunningham to compete the rout.

Manager Gary Steadman will hope to pick his team up quickly for the Bank Holiday Monday visit of Sunderland RCA at Filtrona Park, Kick Off at 1pm.