29th August 2011 - South Shields 2 Sunderland RCA 3

1 - Cunningham
2 - Smith
3 - Rodenby
4 - Kirkup
5 - O'Brien
6 - Brabbs
7 - Galas
8 - Barclay
9 - Benjamin
10 - Burnell
11 - Colvin

12 - McAvoy
13 - Pearson
14 - Chapim

South Shields were unable to get their first points of the season yesterday as they went down 3-2 to Sunderland RCA at Filtrona Park.

Andrew Barclay was making his debut in midfield for Shields having signed from Birtley over the weekend, while Yanis Galas returned to the right of midfield after injury and Michael Rodenby was awarded his first start of the season at left back.

The first chance of the game came on four minutes for RCA when a cross into the box was volleyed goalwards by Walton from close range, but it was saved well by Cunningham.

It was almost a dream start for Barclay, when a long ball was flicked on by Alex Benjamin to the debutant who was through on goal, but he was unable to get control of the ball.

Moments later Shields were to take the lead when a ball into the box was headed home by The Mariners number 9 Alex Benjamin to make it 1-0 to the home side.

And Benjamin almost doubled the lead on 22 minutes when a cross from the right by Smith was flicked on this time by Barclay and headed goalwards by Benjamin, but his attempt went over the bar.

The visitors equalised on 24 minutes when a mix up between Kirkup and Cunningham allowed Davison to knick in and grab his first goal of the afternoon.

Shields came back at RCA and a strong run from Barrie Smith, who ran with the ball from his right back position before unleashing a 25 yard strike, but the shot was well saved by Hoggeth.

South Shields were to retake the lead on 35 minutes when a good through ball from Barclay found Tony Burnell, who was strong to hold off a defender before cooly slotting the ball under Hoggeth to make it 2-1 to South Shields.

The game was end to end and on 38 minutes, an excellent delivery from the right was met by a strong head from former Shields striker Gavin Barton. His attempt hit the top of Cunningham's bar and went over for a goal kick.

Sunderland RCA were to get their equaliser before half time, when a free kick taken from the right was met by the head of Davison, who was head an shoulders above the defence to power the ball past Cunningham for his second goal of the game.

As the second half got underway it was RCA who were looking most likely to grab the all important third goal, twice coming close in the opening 10 minutes with a great save by Jake Cunningham keeping them at bay.

Shields were denied a penalty on 67 minutes when Tony Burnell passed the ball to McAvoy in the box, he lined up the shot at goal but was brought down in the process, and despite claims from the home side and their supporters, the referee waved play on.

It was RCA again pressurising the Shields defence 5 minutes later, this time Gavin Barton turned Duncan O'Brien on the edge of the box and fired in a curling shot that was again saved well by Cunningham.

But RCA got the winner and Davison claimed his hat-trick with 8 minutes to go with a
perfectly struck free kick from 20 yards.

It's FA Cup duties next for The Mariners as they travel to Newcastle Benfield in the preliminary round on Saturday.