Match Report: Chester 1-0 South Shields

South Shields were punished by Tom Peers on Saturday, as his first-half stoppage time goal condemned The Mariners to a narrow 1-0 defeat. 

The forward won out in a scramble in the 18-yard box on the stroke of half-time, scoring the only goal of the afternoon.

Martin Smith made a welcome return to action, coming on as a second-half substitute.

It was good to see Sam Hodgson out on the field once more, following his early recall from Morpeth Town, after spending only one month away from the club.

Unfortunately, Matty Williams was stretchered off in the sixth minute for The Seals after suffering what looked to be a serious injury. 

Shields' first opportunity came when Mackenzie Heaney launched a teasing through ball over to Hodgson, but he struck too heavily and Elyh Harrison managed to pick things up.

Boney soon pulled off a leaping punch to thwart Nathan Woodthorpe’s surging ball into the box. 

There were elements of good play by Shields but time after time, things were blocked in the final third which prevented many material chances from appearing. 

Kyle Crossley potentially went closest for The Mariners during the first-half, when he danced and turned to beat Harrison Burke - who went on for the injured Williams - before Burke managed to slide in and force his shot wide. 

Things were settled when Kurt Willoughby charged up the field and took a shot which initially deflected off Boney, but Declan Weeks guided his attempt with power which came as a surprise to the collection of Shields players aiming to defend it.

Peers was able to smash it from close range and Boney couldn’t instinctively catch it, as it flew into the net, to the jubilation of the Chester supporters at the Deva Stadium.

All things considered the second-half felt a bit flat from Shields’ perspective. 

They were pushing to get back into the game via an equaliser but that goal crucially never came.

The stand-out moment for sure was when Boney prevented what would have been a surefire goal by captain George Glendon, before leaping to save another definite goal by Weeks.

The result put Shields 12th in the table - now Elliott Dickman’s men must focus on the upcoming cup ties in the Frank Pattison Challenge Cup, as well as the FA Cup, before their return to Vanarama National League North action in a fortnight. 

Chester: Harrison, Hunter, Williams (Burke ‘7), Pollock, Woodthorpe, Bainbridge, Glendon, Weeks, Caton, Willoughby (Turner ‘75), Peers.

Unused substitutes: Murray, Roberts, Hancox.

Goals: Peers (‘45+2). 

South Shields: Boney, Okeke (Taylor ‘72), Shepherd, Bramwell, Heaney, Briggs, Crossley, Hodgson, Mee (Smith ‘67), Middlemas (McGowan ‘67), Rutledge.

Unused substitutes: Seymour, Watts.

Attendance: 2,254.

Image credit: Kev Wilson (@KevWilson19)