MATCH REPORT: South Shields 1-6 Durham United

South Shields suffer defeat in Durham Challenge Cup 

Durham United opened the scoring just twenty minutes in through Sebastian Hopkins. 

Shields then found themselves the equaliser thanks to Louis Burns efforts. 

Durham then regained their lead going into half-time through a Phil Kay penalty in the 38th minute.

The second-half saw Durham score a further four with goals coming from Ellis Challinor, Kay, Tomas Boothroyd and Oliver Bell in the 59th, 65th, 75th and 90th minutes. 

Monday nights’ clash between South Shields and Durham United saw the league leaders of the Enterprise National League North make eleven changes to their starting squad for the cup tie. 

The Mariners too, were hoping to bounce back from their 0-0 stalemate on Saturday away at Southport and hoped that the Durham Challenge Cup would see the goals come flying back in. 

A fully changed Mariners eleven started the game rather well with Kaue Foy carving the game’s opening chance as he saw his strike cleared off the line in the seventh minute.

The first and most promising chance of the game came for the away side with 20 minutes played — one which was tucked away by Hopkins after Kay volleyed it across to the forward. 

A South Shields equaliser came just twelve minutes later thanks to a brilliant cross from Jonah Flewers that Burns flicked past Patrick Dixon brilliantly. 

Kay, who had helped craft the away sides first, regained Durham’s lead, converting from the penalty spot in the 38th minute. 

Second-half substitute Oliver O’Connor was the man for the Mariners who kickstarted their pursuit of an equalising goal, as within the opening two minutes of the second 45, he had already caused danger. 

O’Connor whipped a delicious cross into the box that was met by Burns who headed at goal — a Dixon super stop was the only thing stopping Shields from equalising.

The crucial fourth goal of the game unfortunately went the visitors way as Challinor headed in Durham's third just before the hour mark.

Six minutes later Durham bagged their fourth with Kay doubling his tally, as he found himself through on goal after a misplaced pass and tucked the ball away. 

With a quarter of an hour left to play Durham scored again with Boothroyd tucking away after Kay’s solo run allowed for a tap-in. 

Right before the full-time whistle blew Durham added a sixth, with Oliver Bell adding to the tally.

South Shields: Turner, Cook, Blaney, Smith (M. Smith 58’), Sloan (Storey 46’), Parker (O’Connor 46’), Evitt, McGowan (Moffat 58’), Foy (Hewitt 66’), Burns, Flewers 

Durham United: Dixon, Williams, O’Neill, Challinor, Duenkel, Bell, Dixon, Bramwell, Kay, Boothroyd, Hopkins

Goals: Hopkins 20’ Burns 32’ Kay 38’ 65’ Challinor 59’ Boothroyd 75’ Bell 90’