17-Sep-2011 - South Shields 1 Billingham Town 5

1 - Cunningham
2 - Pearson
3 - Bell
4 - Chapim
5 - Kirkup
6 - McAvoy
7 - Galas
8 - Barclay
9 - Benjamin
10 - Burnell
11 - Colvin

12 - Fitzpatrick
13 - Southern
14 - Grant

Shields boss Gary Steadman, opted for a 3-5-2 formation, with the returning Dan Kirkup playing with new boys Lee Bell and Michael Pearson at the back.

Shields started brightly, and it was the home side who created the first chance of the game when Alex Benjamin played a ball over the top for Tony Burnell, who struck the ball on the half volley, but his attempt was high and wide.

On 7 minutes, a corner by Yanis Galas was met by the head of Bell but his attempt was cleared off the line by the Billingham defence.

The Mariners went close again on 14 minutes, when a ball into the box was headed down by Burnell and volleyed goalwards by Andrew Barclay, but his attempt was wide of the goal.

But the all important first goal came for the visitors on 18 minutes when Norman ran with the ball into the box before delivering a dangerous cross across the face of goal for Martin to put past Cunningham.

But their lead didn't last long, when Chapim played a superb ball through for Benjamin, who, one on one with Briggs, cooly curls it into the bottom corner to equalise.

Both sides were to go close to a second, but it was to be Billingham who took their chance on 39 minutes, when Norman was again allowed to run into the box from the left, but this time he was able to score himself from a tight angle.

And three minutes later it was 3-1 to the Teesiders when a complete mixup in the Shields defence allowed Owens to capitalise and beat Cunningham from close range.

Galas went close with a superb turn and volley on the stroke of half time but it was well saved by Briggs.

The second half started badly for Gary Steadman's team, conceding a fourth within 5 minutes of the re-start when a long range effort from Arthur was saved by Cunningham but he was unable to keep hold of the ball and Owens was first to the rebound to grab his second goal of the game.

And it was to get worse for Shields when a corner, taken from the right was headed home by centre half Cosavella to make it 5-1 to Billingham.

The final insult was to come on 65 minutes when a reckless two footed challenge saw Tony Burnell given a straight red card and facing a three match ban, leaving Steadman without both Burnell and the injured Stephen Ramsey in the coming weeks.

This defeat leaves the management of Shields with some thinking to do in preparation for the Durham Challenge Cup tie with Ryton and Crawcrook Albion on Tuesday night at Filtrona Park.