MATCH REPORT: SOUTH SHIELDS 2-2 BUXTON

Paul Blackett penalty and super-substitute Caden Kelly rally South Shields to snatch late point against Buxton FC

The first two goals of the game came within 26 minutes as Tai Sodje got both, claiming himself a brace. 

The Mariners started the second-half quickly scoring the crucial third goal of the game in the 57th minute through a Blackett penalty. 

The equaliser was then smashed in by substitute Kelly with less than five minutes to play. 

League leaders South Shields came into Saturday’s game beaming with confidence following their 2-1 bank holiday win away to Bedford Town on Monday night. 

The Mariners looked to make it six wins out of six in the Enterprise National League North.

They hosted a 13th place Buxton side who have picked up just six points in five games so far. 

The Mariners then, were looking to inflict another defeat to the away side, while Buxton hoped for an upset.

The game started off rather unfortunately for the Mariners as Sodje nicked the ball off Jasper Sheik and rolled the ball into the back of the net in the second minute of the game. 

A few minutes later Shields had a huge penalty shout as Blackett seemed to be pulled down in the box however the referee let it go. 

The next chance the Mariners had came through Daniel Ward's efforts. 

The winger broke down the right hand side and fizzed a cross into a dangerous area however it was put away for a corner and nothing was made from it. 

Four minutes later the Mariners conceded a second. 

Again it was Sodje at the goals for the away side. 

Luke Hall headed at Sheik who made a terrific finger-tip save, however the ball fell back for Sodje who headed into the net. 

The second-half got underway and the Mariners started well. 

Two minutes into the second-half and the Mariners already had a big chance. 

Ward beat his man and played the ball to Blackett whose shot was blocked, but fortunately fell to Daniel Dodds, however his effort went over the bar.

The third goal of the game — the most crucial, came our way — no surprise to who the scorer was. 

It was a fantastic ball over the top which Blackett latched onto, the striker drove toward the box and was brought down by Max Bardell who received a second yellow card for his troubles. 

Up stepped Blackett — and undoubtedly the penalty was dispatched. 

The Mariners were now pressuring Buxton hard. 

With less than a quarter of an hour to go David Carson found himself space and rifled an effort from the edge of the box that was only a yard or two wide of the post.

In the 83rd minute of the game the Mariners found themselves so close to the equaliser. 

Another fantastic ball was played from Cedywn Scott into Blackett’s who took the ball down and smashed it at Paul

Cooper who made the save. 

Deep into stoppage time, Kelly's deflected cross fell to Scott who chested the ball down, took the ball past Cooper and tried to release a strike however the flooded Buxton box was able to get a block in and clear away. 

That however was not the last chance of the game. 

As with just less than a minute of the additional six to go, another superb ball was rifled in. 

This time Jenkins lifted the ball into the box, unfortunately for the Mariners — Scott and Kelly couldn’t manage to get a foot on the ball and stick it in the net.  

South Shields' late equaliser meant that they still remain the league leaders of the Enterprise National League North with 16 points. 

South Shields: Sheik, Sykes, Mann, Tinkler, (Morse 61’), Dodds, Carson (Alcock 77’), Jenkins, Walsh (Kelly 70’), Ward, Scott, Blackett

Buxton: Cooper, Trueman, Hill, Burton, Kirby, Brennan, Martin (Coleman 74), Sodje (Tomlinson 90’), Bardell, Hall (McClean 54’), Robinson 

Unused substitutes: Smith, Briggs, McGowan, Savage

Goals: Sodje 2, 26, Blackett 57’ Kelly 86’ 

Attendance: 1814