Match Report: South Shields 2-1 Alfreton Town

South Shields recorded back-to-back wins at the 1st Cloud Arena with a hard-fought 2-1 triumph over the stubborn Alfreton Town.

Paul Blackett got the ball rolling just six minutes into an impressive first half performance from the home side. David Carson’s excellent ball from deep split the Town defence as Blackett raced onto it and showed outstanding composure and presence of mind to lift the ball over the onrushing Askew from twenty-five yards and into the corner. A moment of genuine and unique quality saw Blackett notch his nineteenth league goal of the campaign and give Shields an early lead.

Alfreton used their physicality and direct approach throughout and looked to pin Shields deep into their territory and the visitors almost drew level just five minutes later. Sam Osborne was well picked out by former Mariner, Jed Abbey, and Osborne, baring down on goal could only fire his effort into the side netting.

Shields were comfortably on top in the game, though, and were enjoying all of the ball. They doubled their lead midway through the first half when Will Jenkins’ clever switch of play found Iestyn Hughes on the right. Hughes’ inviting low cross was almost met by Blackett sliding towards the goal line, but Kyle Crossley was on hand to fire into the roof of the net at the back post to celebrate his re-introduction to the starting eleven with a goal.

The hosts, playing with more vigour and confidence than what the home crowd saw on Saturday, effectively closed out the remainder of the half, refusing to give up possession on the halfway line and being full value for their two-goal lead at the interval.

As the second half got underway, the visitors looked to find a way back into the contest and certainly competed better against the impressive midfield quartet of David Carson, Martin Smith, Ashton Mee and Jenkins of Shields. It was the home side, though, who came closest to adding another goal on the hour mark after Blackett found himself goal side of Adam Anson and was smartly denied at the near post by Askew as Shields looked to put the game beyond doubt.

However, the sluggish twenty minutes that followed disgruntled the home faithful and gave Alfreton a route back into the game. After Abbey was denied well by Myles Boney from eighteen yards, Lewis Salmon was superbly denied on the goal line by Mackenzie Heaney as his rebounded effort looked certain to breach the Shields goal on seventy-six minutes.

It was to be Salmon, though, who eventually did haul Alfreton back into the game. On eighty-eight minutes, Shields failed to clear a corner and after a pinball situation in the six-yard box, Salmon reacted quickest and was on hand to divert the ball beyond Boney and into the bottom corner of the Mariners’ net.

As five minutes of added time began, the nerves inside the ground were tangible. However, it was the leaders who came closest to the next goal when substitute, Dan Ward, was found by Jenkins and the midfielder’s effort looked for all the world like it was going to secure the three points until Askew somehow kept his side in the contest by palming it wide.

Ultimately, though, it was too little too late for the visitors and Shields were not breached further and successfully closed out a vital win which lifts them to thirteenth in the table and ensures their lengthy trip to Kings Lynn on Saturday becomes a six pointer for their late play off push.

South Shields: Boney, Hughes (Myers-Smith, 66), Shepherd, Briggs, Heaney, Carson, Smith (Ward, 62), Jenkins, Crossley, Blackett (McGowan, 71), Mee

Unused Substitutes: Seymour, Sloan

Goals: Blackett (6’), Crossley, (26’)

Alfreton Town: Askew, Solademi, Anson, Wiley (Lund, 45), Carson (Clackstone, 62), Abbey, Osborne, Cantrill (Waldock, 86), McDonagh (Akeel, 65), Salmon, Newall

Unused Substitutes: Hunt

Goals: Salmon (88’)

Attendance: 1542

Image Credit: Kev Wilson

(@KevWilson19)