Match Report: King's Lynn Town 3-0 South Shields

South Shields lost back-to-back matches as their charge for the Enterprise National League North title took a heavy blow on Tuesday night against King’s Lynn Town.

New signing Brandon Forbes - who had only arrived at the Linnets earlier that day - shocked the Mariners in the 15th minute before Morgan Williams compounded the surprise just before the break.

Carlton Ubaezuonu inflicted the final hit to an uncharacteristic South Shields side, who now find themselves four points behind league leaders AFC Fylde with eight games of the regular season left.

Ian Watson’s side have it all to do if they are to overcome the Lancastrian side but there is still a lot of football to be played.

After a fairly quiet spell in the opening stages, Forbes staggeringly scored directly from a corner to send the home supporters wild - it was a brilliant hit which flew past Tom Watson in goal.

That goal appeared to be the defining moment, at least during the first 30 minutes where very little was created by either side.

Forbes came close from another set-piece, this time a free-kick on the half-hour mark, but Watson managed to pull off a big save to deny him.

The Mariners found themselves two goals down at half-time after Williams’ sweet volley found the bottom-right corner following a trademark long throw in routine.

Two became three when Ross Crane surged up the right-hand side of the field before he laid it off to Ubaezuonu as he raced through on goal.

The ex-Scunthorpe United forward slammed it past Watson to put the Linnets well out of sight.

Sonny Finch and Jack Roles combined efforts as Shields posed a dangerous threat in the 67th minute; it seemed as if they might get one goal back but Aaron Chapman denied them both.

A few minutes later, the latter was taken off after feeling discomfort and replaced by the experienced Martin Smith.

Carl Magnay, who led the team in Watson’s absence, made a number of substitutions to try and change the game but they couldn’t create the impact he desired.

Shields went home with nothing for the second game running, the first time it has happened in the league this season.

The team are back at home this Saturday when they face third-placed side Merthyr Town (3pm kick-off).

King’s Lynn Town: Chapman, Clements, Doherty, Wilson, Clunan (Williams 24’), Ubaezuonu (Sotona 71’), Dickens, Crane (Lambert 88’), Okwumo, Bondo (Marriott 80’), Forbes (Davis 61’).

Unused substitutes: Jones, Fleming.

Goals: Forbes (15’), Williams (45’), Ubaezuonu (60’).

South Shields: Watson, Tinkler (Morse 89’), Bainbridge, Sykes, McGurk (Finch 54’), Robson (Alcock 63’), Blackett, Jenkins, Mann, Wheeldon (Roles 54’, Smith 70’), Dodds.

Unused substitutes: Sheik.

Attendance: 887.

Image credit: Ruby Pindar Photography (@rubypindar.photography).