Match Report: South Shields 2-1 Chorley

South Shields returned to winning ways with a two-one win over Chorley in the National League North thanks to a late Dylan Stephenson goal. 

The deadlock was broken in the 21st minute when Aaron Martin rounded Max Dearnley in the Chorley goal and slotted home. 

Carlton Ubaezuonu brought the visitors level in the 47th minute by firing in from close range.  

The Mariners grabbed all three points in the 94th minute when Stephenson fired the ball into an empty net. 

South Shields made three changes from the team that lost one nil against Brackley on Saturday, with CJ Clarke, Jed Abbey and Martin coming in for Jordan Hunter, Michael Woods and Dylan Stephenson. 

The first real chance of the game fell to Tom Broadbent in the 18th minute after some poor Chorley defending from a free kick left Broadbent with the goal at his mercy, however, his shot flew over the bar. 

The visitors came close to opening the scoring in the 21st minute through George Horbury but the midfielder’s shot went narrowly over the bar. 

Chorley would immediately live to regret this missed chance as the Mariners went straight up the other end and opened the scoring through Martin. 

An error at the back from the Magpies left Martin one-on-one with Dearnley and the striker made no mistake, going around the ‘keeper before calmly rolling the ball into the back of the net. 

Billy Whitehouse had a chance to draw the visitors level in the 31st minute after a slip in the box from Blair Adams but the winger dragged his shot just wide of the post. 

Chorley did get themselves level just after half-time through Carlton Ubaezuonu.

After South Shields cleared a corner, Whitehouse’s shot from the edge of the box was blocked on the line by Clarke only for the ball to fall to Ubaezuonu who lashed the ball into the net. 

South Shields came close to restoring their lead in the 66th minute when Clarke cut in from the right-hand side and fired a shot goalwards.

His effort was saved by Dearnley before a scramble in the box was cleared for a corner.  

The Mariners got a last-gasp winner in the fourth minute of added time through Stephenson.

The second-half substitute was able to tap into an empty net when the ball fell to him in the box after Blackett was brought down by Dearnley whilst through on goal. 

Myles Boney was called into action in the last minute of the game to save down low from Scott Wilson’s effort from just outside the area. 

South Shields: Boney, Clarke, Morse, Broadbent, Adams (C), Briggs, Smith, Heaney, Abbey (Savage 79), Blackett, Martin (Stephenson 79) 

Unused subs: Fletcher, Gomes, Sloan 

Goals: Martin (21), Stephenson (90+4)