South Shields progressed to the fourth qualifying round of the Emirates FA Cup in style on Saturday as they swept Marske United away with a 5-2 victory at 1st Cloud Arena.
A hat-trick from Dylan Mottley-Henry, a first minute strike from Mackenzie Heaney and Jordan Hunter’s second goal for the club saw the Mariners seal their place in Monday’s draw.
It was an entertaining display from the hosts as they earned a thoroughly deserved win which takes them to within one more victory of a coveted place in the first round of the historic competition.
Shields made the perfect start as Heaney fired them ahead after just 58 seconds. Jordan Hunter’s cross evaded Adam Wheatley, and Heaney slotted past Ryan Catterick after being given plenty of space in the box.
Mottley-Henry made it two after five minutes, as Shields went for blood early on. Conor Newton produced a fantastic through ball to release the forward and his composed, curling finish found the bottom corner, which is exactly what the Mariners deserved after their fast start.
They could have added a third shortly afterwards. Smith delivered a delicious free-kick into the box and Dillon Morse couldn’t direct his header either side of Catterick. Mottley-Henry had a great chance in the same phase of play, but his outside-the-foot strike skimmed the post.
The onslaught continued and Heaney had a chance to double his tally. His curling strike from distance nearly caught out Catterick, but the goalkeeper was able to recover and collect the ball.
Marske could – and probably should – have grabbed a goal back when Josh Macdonald teased a wonderful cross into the box, but Connor Simpson hit his close-range effort straight at Myles Boney with the goal at his mercy. Adam Boyes then turned to work space for a shot, but he dragged it wide.
Shields stretched their advantage midway through the half as Heaney played Mottley-Henry through on goal once again and his initial effort was saved by Catterick before he slid the ball into the net on the rebound.
Mottley-Henry was a thorn in the side of Marske all afternoon and could have had his hat-trick in the first half. He turned magnificently on the edge of the area and Catterick somehow diverted his powerful effort wide.
On the stroke of half-time, Marske pulled one back through Connor Smith, and what a goal it was. His curling effort from the edge of the box looped over Boney and found the top corner.
From the kick-off, Shields added a fourth, and Mottley-Henry grabbed his hat-trick. Lewis Alessandra squared the ball to the winger and he tucked the ball into the far corner, showing the confidence that Shields were playing with in the first half.
Less than five minutes into the second half, another goal was added to the scoresheet as Hunter raced down the right wing with acres of space in front of him and drilled a low effort which took a deflection on its way in as the right-back registered his second goal for the club.
Glen Butterworth’s long range effort was deflected just wide as Marske attempted to reduce the deficit, and Theo Hudson was denied by Boney as he produced a fantastic save at his near post.
Alessandra, who was brilliant all afternoon, had a golden opportunity to make it six midway through the second period. Newton did brilliantly to power his way through the middle and selflessly lay the ball off to the forward, but he dragged the ball wide with the goal gaping.
Catterick kept the score at five shortly afterwards when Alessandra was played through by Will McGowan, but the goalkeeper made a fantastic save, and Robert Briggs on the rebound could have added another, but Catterick palmed the effort away from danger.
With the last kick of the game, Rob Guilfoyle got one back for the visitors with a superb free-kick which found the top corner, but ultimately that did not affect a fantastic South Shields performance.
They are back in league action on Tuesday when they travel to FC United of Manchester.
South Shields: Boney, Newton, Broadbent, Liddle, Morse, Smith, Hunter (McGowan 65), Mottley-Henry (Briggs 72), Alessandra, Heaney (Hodgson 76), Adams (c).
Goals: Heaney (1), Mottley-Henry (5, 26, 45+3), Hunter (50).
Attendance: 1,218.
Image: Kev Wilson.
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