MATCH REPORT: SOUTH SHIELDS 0-2 KIDDERMINSTER HARRIERS

South Shields showcase valiant and courageous effort in Play-off final despite  Harriers triumph

Two quick fire Kidderminster Harriers goals inspired the visitors to victory at the 1st Cloud Arena. 

Goals in the 35th and 37th minutes were tucked away by Kieren Donnelly and Charlie Cooper, respectively winning the tie for the Harriers.

The hosts’ came into the final with an unchanged eleven following last week's stellar semi-final performance against Buxton FC. 

With this in mind, Shields would look to rely on their emphatic front men, such as Paul Blackett and Sean McGurk, the men who combined for the Mariners penalty goal in their previous outing.

The hosts’ began the final emphatically.

In the ninth minute of the game, a beautiful goal-kick was launched forward by Tom Watson into Blackett who latched on before finding McGurk, who danced his way into the box creating an opportunity to lash at goal, however his effort strayed just wide of Christian Dibble’s goal.

Astonishingly it took the fast-starting hosts just two minutes before they created their next opportunity at goal. 

Again Blackett at the heart of the move, fizzed the ball out to his right where Sonny Finch picked it up before thundering an effort that went over Dibble’s crossbar.

The hosts’, who were utterly dominant thus far, were still creating opportunities when another golden one came their way just a minute past the half-hour mark. 

Daniel Dodds burst down the right side before laying it off to Jack Roles on the edge of the box who took a touch before firing it toward the bottom right corner, however a deflection saw it go out for a South Shields Corner.

Despite this early dominance, unfortunately, just four minutes later, it was the visitors who struck first blood. 

Donnelly the one who headed home for the Harriers.

And just two minutes later, once more, unfortunately for the Mariners, Charlie Cooper had doubled the visitors lead. 

Cooper nicked the ball away from Todd Alcock before charging into the box and thumping in a deflected effort past Watson.

The hosts’ began their second 45 minutes ferociously as within three minutes they had a golden chance to pull one back.

A flurry of chances came the Mariners way with Blackett and McGurk’s initial efforts being kept out, however the ball then fell for a third time to Finch who couldn’t keep his shot down. 

Again, the visitors were let off. 

With nine minutes left to go the Mariners who were still ever so desperate to get back in the game crafted another neat opportunity at goal. 

This time it was Cain Sykes who whipped in a delicious ball that fell to McGurk at the back post who then struck an effort towards Dibble’s near post however the keeper made a big save. 

South Shields: Watson, Tinkler, Bainbridge, McGurk, Blackett (Wheeldon 87), Mann, Finch Alcock (Scott 57’), Dodds (Sykes 69’), Carson (Robson 79’), Roles (Kelly 81’)

Kidderminster Harriers: Dibble, Devine, Obi, Donnelly, Faakye, Walker, Evans, Davis, Cooper Reynolds, Robinson

Unused substitutes: Sheik, Morse,

Goals: Donnelly 35’ Cooper 37’ 

Attendance: 3628