South Shields fell to a 2-1 defeat away from home against relegation-threatened Rushall Olympic on Saturday.
An own goal brought Shields back into the game after Louis Hall had given the hosts the lead, though it wasn’t enough and Aaron Forde sent the home supporters away happy.
Shields started off the game the brighter of the two sides, with the first chance falling to starting debutant Ewan McGowan, whose shot on goal was blocked out for a corner within 10 minutes.
McGowan did excellently to send Paul Blackett through on goal just after, but Pics ‘keeper, Scott Moloney, pulled off a confident save to deny one of the league’s top goalscorers.
Austin Samuels handed the hosts their first real opportunity when he fired a cross into the box, from the left-hand side, but it just missed the head of the anticipating Rushall Olympic attacker.
Youngster Alfie Myers-Smith was taken off in the 27th minute through injury and he was replaced by Bryan Taylor, who has recently rejoined the first-team squad following his loan spell at Redcar Athletic.
A nice piece of play just before the half-time whistle saw the likes of Martin Smith and Kyle Crossley get involved; the Mariners were arguably unlucky not to have taken the lead.
Coleby Shepherd prevented what was a surefire one-on-one in the 65th minute for Rushall Olympic’s Luke Benbow.
Shields were left stunned five minutes later when the hosts took the lead - a superb ball up the field was delivered to Theo Williams, who launched a ball over the goalmouth to find the sliding Hall.
Just after, however, potential disaster could have struck when Brad Bood was red carded for a high challenge.
The resulting free-kick drew the visitors level, but it wasn’t long before that parity was wiped out.
With the flag stayed down, Forde ran through on goal before rounding Kyle Seymour and slotting the ball into an empty net, to the joy of the home crowd.
Moloney thwarted Shepherd’s stoppage-time rocket, which stood every chance of finding the back of the net, and tipped it out for a corner.
Shields couldn’t find the leveller they needed and they went home empty-handed.
The Mariners find themselves in 15th place in the Vanarama National League North table, with just five games of the season remaining.
Elliott Dickman’s side are next in action when they host Brackley Town on Saturday, April 5th.
Rushall Olympic: Moloney, Bood, Bavanganga, McAlinden, King-Harmes, Thomas, Fletcher, McGlinchey (Forde 65’), Williams (Green 86’), Samuels (Benbow 65’), L. Hall (Hull 74’).
Unused substitutes: K. Hall.
Red card: Bood (71’).
Goals: Hall (70’), Forde (81’).
South Shields: Seymour, Myers-Smith (Taylor 27’), Briggs, Shepherd, Hughes (Stephenson 74’), Carson, Smith, Jenkins, McGowan, Blackett, Crossley.
Unused substitutes: Boney, Sloan, Burns.
Goals: Own goal (75’).
Attendance: 357.
Image credit: Steve Walker at Rushall Olympic
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