Match Report: Brackley Town 1-0 South Shields

South Shields fell to a second consecutive 1-0 defeat in the Vanarama National League North on Saturday, this time against Brackley Town.

The Mariners wanted to bounce back after Tuesday’s narrow loss to Radcliffe, but they were forced to settle with nothing after George Carline’s 71st minute goal separated the two sides. 

New arrivals Joe Richards and Anton Dudik - loaned from Leeds United and Carlisle United respectively - were in from the off and they wanted to use their first outing to impress manager Elliott Dickman. 

Supporters will hope to see more bright performances from the duo over the next month. 

To their credit, Shields started the game well - it took just eight minutes for the pair to create the team’s first real chance of the afternoon, though Richards’ shot dragged wide.

A piercing through ball from skipper Robert Briggs found Mackenzie Heaney, who was running into the box, and he managed to hit it first time into the path of Paul Blackett.

He took an extra touch before turning round and laying it off to Coleby Shepherd, who aimed it on target and forced Jonny Maxted into making a good save.

Moments later, Jenkins was afforded the opportunity to try something and it almost paid off.

Myles Boney was excellent for the Mariners, and he became the hero in the 27th minute when he stopped what would have been a surefire goal for Shane Byrne after a quickly-taken free-kick.

It was a strong opening for Shields, who just couldn’t find a goal to complement it.

Shepherd was taken off in the 54th minute as an injury precaution, while Dudik came off for Kyle Crossley in the 60th minute, in the hope of making an immediate impact.

The action was described as ‘end-to-end’ by some in the lead-up to the goal, but it was Carline's opener which ultimately proved to be the difference-maker.

Needless to say it was a fantastic strike from inside the 18-yard box; it had too much curl on it for Boney to react and it sent the home spectators into a frenzy. 

Dickman’s side needed to find a goal in order to bring things level, but despite attempts by Crossley to firstly find a man in the box, and to get one in the net himself, they were unsuccessful and the Mariners went home empty-handed.

Shields have a week to prepare for their next away trip, against 16th-placed Warrington Town on Saturday, November 2nd.

Brackley Town: Maxted, Carline, Dean (Craig 78’), Bates, Newton, Roberts, Lowe, Lyttle, Lilly, Byrne, Hall (O’Sullivan 86’). 

Unused substitutes: Cross, Abbey, Worby. 

Goals: Carline (71’).

South Shields: Boney, Richards, Briggs, Morse, Broadbent, Shepherd (Mee 54’), Heaney, Smith (Hodgson 83’), Jenkins, Dudik (Crossley 60’), Blackett. 

Unused substitutes: Seymour, Bramwell. 

Attendance: 592. 

Image credit: Sam Jones