MATCH REPORT: SOUTH SHIELDS 3-1 WORKSOP TOWN

Paul Blackett hits 18 for the season with an exquisite brace against Worksop Town

The Mariners got off to a fantastic start at the 1st Cloud Arena. 

However their golden chance to get the opener didn’t come until one minute before the half-time whistle, when Blackett’s sliding effort struck the back of the net. 

Unfortunately for the home fans, the celebrations didn’t last long as a minute later Worksop Town found an equaliser through Josh Wilde. 

In the second-half the hosts - like the first, started brilliantly, however this time making the visitors pay in the opening minutes. 

Blackett again was on the scoresheet for his second of the evening. 

Then with three minutes to go substitute Lennon Wheeldon got his name on the scoresheet.

The Mariners came into Tuesday night’s clash with Worksop Town hoping for a similar performance to the reverse fixture in which Watson’s Mariners triumphed in a comfortable 3-0 manner. 

South Shields first real threatening opportunity didn’t come until the 23rd minute when the Mariners first corner off the evening saw Dan Ward come close to stabbing in the opener.

The hosts biggest chance of the game fell just moments after when Sonny Finch glided past the byline before fizzing in a cross that reached Ward, however his scuffed effort raised over the bar.

With just twelve minutes left to play in the first-half the Mariners were denied what seemed to be a sure penalty after Ward looked to be brought down after dribbling into the box. 

Just moments later the Mariners got their breakthrough. 

A wonderful ball was played through into Finch who picked out a perfect ball across the box into the path of a sliding Paul Blackett who opened the scoring. 

However the celebrations were short lived as only a minute later Worksop Town’s Josh Wilde tucked in the equaliser. 

As soon as the second-half whistle blew Ian Watson’s Mariners were attacking with real intent with Finch making Lewis Forshaw make an unbelievable save. 

Unbelievably a minute later this relentless attacking nature from Watson’s men paid off as they were back in the lead right from the corner. 

The corner saw Daniel Dodds play a rolling ball into Will Jenkins who struck the ball first-time for a cross right into Blackett’s path who cleverly stuck his foot out for the ball to bounce off the post and into the net. 

Then three minutes before the full-time whistle substitutes Sean McGurk and Wheeldon linked up for a beautiful goal. 

McGurk found himself through on the left and squared the ball into Wheeldon who made no mistake. 

South Shields: Watson, Bainbridge (Sykes 67’), Morse, Blackett (Wheeldon 61’), Jenkins, Ward, Mann, Finch, Scott, Dodds, Roles (Alcock 61’)

Worksop Town: Forshaw, Wilde, Bencherif, Gooda, Redford, Starcenko, Greaves, Atherton, Tarima, Hall, Whitham

Unused substitutes: Sykes, Smith, McGurk, Robson, Wheeldon, Alcock

Goals: Blackett 44’ 47’ Wilde 45’ 

Attendance: 1566