Match Report: South Shields 1-2 FC United
South Shields suffered a second home league defeat of the season as FC United of Manchester came from behind to win 2-1 at 1st Cloud Arena.
Tom Broadbent's fifth-minute opener was in vain for the Mariners as their 11-match unbeaten run was brought to an end by two second half goals from the visitors.
Amid freezing South Tyneside conditions, the temperature on and off the pitch was red-hot from the outset and a full-blooded start from Shields brought a reward within five minutes.
A cleverly-worked short corner led to a cross from Lewis Alessandra onto the head of Broadbent, who directed it superbly into the corner of the net.
It was the centre-back's third goal in Shields colours and provided his side with the perfect start in their first home game for almost a month.
The Mariners had all the early momentum and could have had a quickfire double when Mackenzie Heaney beat his man and delivered for Alessandra, whose header was held by Dan Lavercombe in the FC goal.
Against the run of play, the away side had an opportunity to equalise on the quarter-hour mark when Max Cane received the ball on the edge of the box, but his low strike was pushed past the post by Myles Boney.
Shields produced several fluent moves and one of them down the left culminated in Dylan Mottley-Henry finding Michael Woods, who was denied from close range by Lavercombe.
FC United settled into the game after that, but were unable to seriously trouble Boney in the remainder of the first half. The closest they came was a lob from Dontai Gabidon on the break which went wide.
There was also a further chance at the other end for Woods, with his half-volley from a Heaney corner flying just off target via a deflection.
Shields were pegged back less than a minute into the second half when Paul Ennis' sweet strike from the right of the area took a deflection and whistled past Boney at the 3G end.
The visitors enjoyed a productive spell and could have taken the lead after a cross was half-cleared to James Vincent and he drilled the ball narrowly wide.
FC United's control of the second half continued and they went into the lead with 20 minutes remaining when Ennis swung in a tremendous corner from the left and Mike Potts powered it past Boney.
Shields almost equalised after a fine move as Blair Adams motored down the left and found Woods, but his goalbound half volley was palmed wide by Lavercombe.
The night would ultimately end in frustration for the Mariners, who will aim to bounce back on Saturday when they travel to Hyde United.
South Shields: Boney, Hunter, Adams (c), Liddle, Broadbent, Woods, Heaney, Briggs, Osei, Alessandra (Gomes 62), Mottley-Henry (Mongoy 62). Subs not used: Smith, Shokunbi, Doherty.
Goal: Broadbent (5).
Attendance: 2,519.
Image: Kev Wilson.