Match Report: Leamington FC 2-0 South Shields FC

South Shields fell to defeat on a tricky afternoon against a direct Leamington side with two first half goals sealing victory.

Coming into the game one place below their opponents in fourteenth, Leamington started the game the stronger of the two sides on a tricky, bobbly surface. They opened the scoring on the twenty-minute mark when a throw-in was controversially awarded the way of the home side after it appeared to have been dribbled out of play by Owen Farmer. One of several Rob Evans long throw-ins was flicked on its way by George Evans, unmarked in the six-yard box to give the Brakes the lead as Shields failed to get to grips with the direct approach throughout, particularly from the throw-in set pieces.

Shields looked to respond after going behind and came closest to doing so with Will Jenkins registering the away side’s first effort on goal on the half hour mark with a strike held by Callum Hawkins from eighteen yards.

As a largely uneventful first half, barring the opening goal, trickled past the fortieth minute, Leamington doubled their lead when Josh Quaynor’s innocuous ball into the Shields third was not dealt with, allowing Henry Landers to get in behind as the bounce dropped to the floor. The winger had the presence of mind to slide the ball through to Tim Berridge who struck first-time into the roof of the net to double his side’s lead comprehensively and give Shields a mountain to climb.

However, the Mariners had a fantastic opportunity to get back into the contest almost straight away when an intricate involving Martin Smith and Kyle Crossley meant Paul Blackett had a shooting chance from ten yards. He saw his effort palmed onto the post by Hawkins before the rebound scorched off the surface into and into Blackett’s shin as he could only lift his second attempt uncontrollably over the crossbar.

It was a gilt-edged chance for the away side as they went into half-time with a 2-0 deficit that looked difficult to overturn.

Shields started the second half brightly, though, with Crossley and Blackett both bringing the best out of Hawkins within the opening ten minutes. Blackett directed a header towards the roof of the net before the Blakes goalie back peddled to tip over the top before Crossley was found well by Jenkins and saw his unchallenged effort from inside the area saved by the onrushing Hawkins.

As the clock ticked over to the fifty-eighth minute, Shields had their best opportunity to pull a goal back and saw the bobbling and unpredictable surface deny them a route back into the contest.

A series of short and sharp passes on the Shields left set Dylan Stephenson free and his pullback was accurate towards Jenkins. Unmarked and with Hawkins leaving the goal vacant after attempting to cut out the pass, it was a tap in for the midfielder before the ball spat off the surface and incomprehensibly bounced over the shin of Jenkins as he lined up his finish. The moment was jubilantly responded to by the Leamington fans whilst Shields came to the realisation perhaps it was not to be their day, being farcically denied a goal after doing everything right.  

After three excellent opportunities to get back into the game were passed up, Leamington steadied the ship and almost added a third themselves, only for Kyle Seymour to outstandingly deny Matty Richards and then Ewan Williams with a double save, both efforts kept out from close range as Elliott Dickman’s were brilliantly kept in the contest by their young goalkeeper twenty minutes from time.

That was to be the final opportunity in a scrappy conclusion, with the highlight for Shields seeing academy graduate, Louis Burns, make his first senior appearance for the club off the bench five minutes from time. Whilst unable to mark his first game with a goal, it was excellent to see yet another player make his mark on the first team.

As referee, Said Ouchene, sounded his whistle for the final time, Leamington celebrated a hard-fought 2-0 victory, leapfrogging Shields into thirteenth, whilst the Mariners fall further to fifteenth in the table with six games to play.

Yet another trip to Warwickshire awaits Shields, with a journey to Rushall Olympic awaiting them next Saturday afternoon giving them an opportunity to end a busy March on a high as Shields, sat fourteen points adrift of the play-offs, will look to end this season on as best they can and in the top half.

Leamington: Hawkins, Meredith, Quaynor (Medrano, 79), Richards (Clarke, 73), Evans, Landers, Walker, Berridge (Shorrock, 77), Ward, Williams, Farmer (Lynn, 82)

Unused Substitutes: Edwards

Goals: Ward (20’), Berridge (40’)

South Shields: Seymour, Hughes, Shepherd, Briggs, Taylor, Carson, Smith, Jenkins, Stephenson (Burns, 86), Blackett, Crossley (McGowan, 56)

Unused Substitutes: Boney, Myers-Smith, Sloan

Attendance: 738