Match Report: South Shields 0-1 Radcliffe

A nine-men South Shields outfit were narrowly defeated by Radcliffe on Tuesday night at 1st Cloud Arena.

Josh Hancock converted the visitors’ 75th minute penalty to claim a 1-0 victory for the Boro, in what was their second consecutive win, being lifted off the bottom of the Vanarama National League North table in the process. 

Elliott Dickman’s side would be left to rue their missed opportunities as all focus turns towards this weekend’s long trip to face Brackley Town. 

Things weren’t made easier by the fact Tom Broadbent - who netted Shields’ winner on Saturday - had to come off part-way through the opening half as an injury precaution. 

And matters were made worse when Mackenzie Heaney was sent off for a handball in the box, which resulted in the visitors scoring the only goal of the game.

Martin Smith was red carded just before the final whistle too, for a challenge on Callum Rowe.

Shields weren’t clinical on the night but they did well in other areas, managing to control the game for large spells, particularly during the first-half.

It was a fairly uneventful first-half, though both teams threatened at times.

Just minutes before coming off, Broadbent stopped Tunde Owolabi, who will need no introduction to Mariners fans, in his tracks before Anthony Dudley narrowly missed his follow-up.

Bramwell managed to get himself involved, creating chances for Will Jenkins and Kyle Crossley before the interval.

The penalty decision proved to be the turning point in the game. Big calls like that are always contentious, but especially so when the game was hanging on a knife-edge. 

Heaney had blocked Rick Smith’s shot on the line and the referee judged it to be a handball.

Hancock duly tucked it away and left Shields with a mountain to climb in the final 15 minutes.

They pushed, to their credit, but couldn’t knock one past Mateusz Hewelt in the end.

Shields were reduced to nine men in the 96th minute after Smith fouled Rowe near the half-way line. 

It was a disappointing evening for the Mariners, who will want to bounce back when they face Brackley Town away from home on Saturday (3pm kick-off). 

South Shields: Boney, Shepherd, Broadbent (Bramwell 29’), Morse, Briggs, Heaney, Jenkins, Mee (McGowan 59’), Smith, Crossley (Blackett 59’), Hodgson. 

Unused substitutes: Seymour, Taylor. 

Radcliffe: Hewelt, Jackson (Adams 78’), Duxbury, Smith, Thornley (Morgan 78’), Maynard, Hancock (Rowe 90+5’), Dudley (Doro 83'), Roscoe, Sargent, Owolabi (Campbell 90+1’). 

Unused substitutes: None.   

Goals: Hancock (75’). 

Attendance: 1,732. 

Image credit: Kev Wilson (@KevWilson19)