South Shields recorded a rare and much-needed three points on the road with a comfortable three-one victory over bottom of the table, Farsley Celtic. Played at the neutral venue of the Silverlands Tarmac Stadium, home of Buxton, fifty Shields fans made the considerable trip to Derbyshire, outnumbering the home support of Farsley by over half.
However, despite what the form guide and off the pitch state suggested, it was the Celts who took the early lead. An innocuous punt forward was misjudged by Tom Broadbent and allowed lively forward, Joao Silva, to get in behind and go through. The winger showed excellent composure to fake to shoot, taking him beyond the onrushing Kyle Seymour and Robert Briggs, before passing the ball into the empty net on eleven minutes. A goal against the run of play and a massive shock to the system for the Mariners, with Farsley coming into this game with eight defeats on the bounce and no win in fourteen.
However, a quick response from the away side followed and they forced their opponents deeper into their third before the pattern of play was taking place entirely in the Farsley half.
With a little number of chances being created, though, Farsley were standing firm at the back and using the strength and pace of Silva and Justin Iowbi in attack to give some rest bite to the defenders in the spring sunshine and warmth.
However, a refereeing decision changed the game when Paul Blackett raced clear on goal on half an hour and was pulled back by Celtic defender, Essa Janneh, as the league’s top scorer was about to unleash his strike on goal. After initial confusion with where the foul had taken place, referee, Jacob Viera, eventually awarded a Shields penalty and a straight red card for Janneh.
A pivotal moment in the game as Blackett calmly dispatched the penalty into the bottom corner before he gave Shields the lead just ten minutes later as the visitors took the lead just before half time.
It was Mackenzie Heaney who swung an excellent cross into the penalty area and, after the ball trickled into the corner of William Brook’s net, it looked as if Heaney’s cross had gone straight through before Blackett wheeled away, signalling his involvement and claiming his and the Mariners’ second goal of the afternoon, giving them the lead at the break.
As the game followed a similar pattern into the second half, Shields were reminded of Farsley’s attacking threat when Iowbi’s flick on from a goal kick fell at the feet of Silva who had beaten the offside trap and ran through unchallenged. As Seymour rushed out for the second time today, Silva could not quite control the bouncing ball and his lob on the bounce looped over the crossbar with Seymour beaten.
That let off woke Shields up, though, as they assumed complete control over the game and failed to allow any more opportunities for Farsley to get forward. Blackett was denied a hat-rick superbly on the hour mark when he headed a Briggs cross goalwards, yet was acrobatically denied by Brook, tipping the ball over for a corner.
The third goal did come, though, just three minutes later. Kyle Crossley did excellently to get to the bye-line on the left and fire an inviting ball across the box. Dan Ward collected and struck a shot goalwards before Heaney and Blackett both helped to divert the ball into the corner. Initial confusion saw Blackett awarded the goal and his hat-rick, however both himself and Heaney confirmed post-match that the latter had got the final touch.
A professional display saw Shields see out the final half hour with no problems as they strolled to a vital win. Crossley was denied one on one by Brook as he looked to make it four, but the Mariners were full value for the three points as the final whistle sounded and the jubilant visiting supporters celebrated.
As players and staff went over to applaud and celebrate with the supporters, they now face another long trip on the road, travelling to Peterborough on Tuesday evening as they look to earn consecutive wins and move back into the top half.
Farsley Celtic: Brook, Abankwah, Janneh, Sheridan, Hyde, Monteiro (Bumhira, 46), Mampala (Morrissey, 86), Kondolo (Priestley-Standing, 64), Polwarth, Silva, Iowbi (Amheo, 58)
Unused Substitutes: Youmbi
Goals: Silva (11’)
South Shields: Seymour, Hughes, Briggs, Broadbent, Shepherd (Myers-Smith, 73), Carson, Jenkins (McGowan, 73), Heaney, Ward (Stephenson, 65), Blackett, Crossley
Unused Substitutes: Boney, Smith
Goals: Blackett (31’, 42’), Heaney (64’)
Attendance: 75
Image Credit: Kev Wilson
(@KevWilson19)
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