MATCH REPORT: SOUTH SHIELDS 4-1 MACCLESFIELD

Sean McGurk brilliant brace inspires South Shields to massive 4-1 victory 

The match started emphatically for Ian Watson’s Mariners who fired home two goals in the opening five minutes thanks to McGurk and Paul Blackett. 

Incredibly the first-half goals didn’t stop there as right on the 25th minute mark, the visitors pulled one back through their captain Paul Dawson. 

However as great sides do, Watson’s Mariners took no time before responding defiantly, as just six minutes later, McGurk slotted home his second of the evening.

Then with 27 minutes left on the clock Sonny Finch rounded off a delightful performance for the hosts – firing home the game's fifth goal of the night.

Shields’ came into Tuesday nights’ game boasting with confidence and adrenaline following their five-star performance against Radcliffe on Saturday. 

The hosts, too, came into the game with an unchanged eleven, Shields superstar striker Blackett was searching for his 29th league goal of the season which would make him the current top scorer in the Enterprise National League North.

South Shields began the midweek clash in mesmerising fashion.

Within two minutes of the opening whistle, the homeside found themselves in front thanks to McGurk’s finish from inside the box. 

A fizzing ball was rifled in by Finch – met by McGurk’s initial strike which crashed the post, however the ball came back to McGurk who, on the second chance tucked the ball in the back of the net. 

Miraculously, it took the hosts just three minutes before they had their lead doubled. 

A wonderful through ball was played by Will Jenkins and into Blackett who cooly tucked the ball past Rogan Ravenhill

Then with 25 minutes on the clock, the visitors clawed their way back into the game, capitalising on one of the Mariners only errors of the first-half. 

A misplaced pass saw Isaac Buckley-Ricketts pick up the ball who was unable to get a shot away thanks to Ethan Mann’s sliding challenge, however the ball fortunately fell into the path of Dawson who pulled one back for the Silkmen.

The visitors first of the evening did make the 1st Cloud Arena slightly nervy, however only for six minutes. 

As in the 31st, Finch burst down the right side before squaring the ball to McGurk who took a touch, kept his composure and slotted the ball into the net. 

The second-half got underway and within five minutes the hosts looked as though they’d tucked away their fourth of the evening.

A ball was played into the back post where Blackett’s sliding effort seemed to cross Ravenhill’s line, however the linesman seemed to think the ball did not cross the line.

Thirteen minutes later the Mariners secured that fourth goal they had been seeking thanks to a wonderful team goal. 

Jack Roles floated a delightful ball into Finch who played a quick one-two with Blackett before calmly netting past Ravenhill.

South Shields: Sheik, Tinkler, Bainbridge, McGurk (Scott 86’), Blackett (Robson 89’), Jenkins, Mann, Finch (Wheeldon 81’), Alcock, Dodds, Roles (Morse 86’)

Macclesfield: Ravenhill, Fensome, Menayese, Dawson, Buckley-Ricketts, Duffy, 

Unused substitutes: Sykes, Kelly, McAndrew

Goals: McGurk 2’ 31’ Blackett 5’ Dawson 25’ Finch 63’

Attendance: 2285