Match Report: South Shields 1-0 Scarborough Athletic

Tom Broadbent's thunderbolt from the centre circle earned South Shields their second win of the season as they battled to a 1-0 victory over Scarborough Athletic.

Broadbent's remarkable strike lit up a tight encounter at 1st Cloud Arena as Shields climbed to ninth in the early Vanarama National League North table.

Shields made one change to the team which drew 1-1 with Farsley Celtic four days earlier, with Luke James brought in for Jordy Mongoy.

James was in the thick of the action in the first half, delivering a number of dangerous crosses from the left which the Mariners were unable to convert.

Bailey Gooda went close at the other end with a header from a corner which flashed just past the post, while Blair Adams did well to block a strike by Frank Mulhern.

Shields began to seize control in the closing stages of the half and had a series of half chances.

James, Aaron Martin and Martin Smith all had efforts deflected narrowly wide, but the Mariners were unable to seriously test visiting goalkeeper Ryan Whitley as it remained goalless at half-time.

Shields remained patient in their pursuit of a breakthrough in the second half, and Martin tested Whitley with a drilled attempt from 20 yards.

It appeared it would take something special to break the deadlock, and that is exactly what Broadbent delivered on 68 minutes.

After collecting the ball on the halfway line, he stepped forward and spotted Whitley off his line before incredibly rifling it past him from 45 yards.

Scarborough responded well and almost immediately created a chance to equalise, with Boney pushing a Dom Tear effort away before brilliantly tipping the midfielder's follow-up over the bar.

Gooda crashed a loose ball against the post from the resulting corner as the Mariners breathed a huge sigh of relief, and they experienced similar emotions six minutes from the end when Lewis Maloney's strike whistled past the upright.

There were further sights of goal at both ends in the closing stages but nothing to worry either goalkeeper as Shields saw out a well-earned victory.

They return to action next Saturday at home to Gloucester City.

South Shields: Boney, Lufudu, Adams (c), Liddle, Broadbent, Smith, Hasani, Abbey (Woods 67), Blackett (Heaney 74), James (Gomes 67), Martin. Subs: Morse, Heaney, Briggs, Woods, Gomes.

Goal: Broadbent (68).

Attendance: 2,308.

Image: Kev Wilson.