Marske sink a strong South Shields side in pre-season friendly.
South Shields 2-3 Marske
Lowe (13’) Round (6’)
Massanka (70’) Tymon (15’)
Dicicco (88’)
Winning an early corner, South Shields were first to threaten in this hard fought tie. Dillion Morse headed back across goal, the ball fell to Massanka but Burgess was there to block. The ball fell nicely on the edge, with Connor Smith diving in to prevent Briggs shooting. This crucial tackle was received by Connor Tee who attempted to play it all the way back to the ‘keeper. Boyes managed to reach it first however and found Round advancing down the left hand side of the pitch. The Marske wing-back hit the ball first time to rifle into an empty net. The perfect counter attack from the away side to go 1-0 up. Smith was nearly the hero once again, as he dribbled excellently past Blair Adams and played a teasing ball into the area that was headed away by Morse. The right hand side as Smith took the ball past Adams again. This time it was Jon Shaw to head clear. It didn’t take long for the hosts to equalize though. They managed to sustain pressure from a corner, with the ball falling to Nathan Lowe. He took a touch past Hopson and curled the ball past Catterick, who was rooted to the spot. Marske’s lead didn’t last long and neither did the level scoring, this time Marske found the net and regained control. Some great play from Blackford down the right hand side resulted in a lofted ball to Hopson, who played a beautiful ball toward the back post. Tymon’s head was there to meet, leaving Boney no chance from close range. More Marske pressure down the wing was dealt with well by Shaw. Round and Boyes combined for a lovely one-two, but the cross could only find the Shields defender. Darius Osei went close for the hosts afterward, turning Round before lashing his effort narrowly wide. Adam Boyes pressed Hunter into a mistake mid-way through the first half and he managed to steal the ball from the feet of the Shields right back before laying the ball into the middle for Tymon. The Marske number 10 took too much time however and the pass was intercepted and cleared with ease. Osei was the hosts main threat throughout the first half, he poked a great ball through searching for Massanka, but Catterick was positioned well and came off his line to claim. It was again Osei moments later, attempting to get at Round and get a shot away. Round blocked but only as far as Massanka, who volleyed wide. Lowe tested his luck from range again but this time Catterick was left with an easy catch. Shields had the post to thank with the final chance of the half. Gott played the ball over to Smith on the right and his cross found Boyes at the back post but he could only direct his header against the woodwork. Boney stood no chance in the Shields goal and will have been counting his chickens. Marske went into the interval with a 2-1 lead.

The second half began, with Dicicco replacing Boyes for the Seasiders and he nearly got off to the perfect start, shooting narrowly wide from range. Catterick was called into another catch from a threatening ball, this time from Adams. Shields nearly had their equalizer following a mix up between Wheatley and Catterick though. A wayward ball from Wheatley, who thought Catterick was stood in his goal was nearly intercepted by Massanka, but the young Marske GK showed some great pace to steal the ball from his feet. Shiels again looked dangerous and it was Adams again at the centre of things. He and Osei played a one-two before he whipped in, luckily for Marske, no one was there to meet though. The Seasiders weren’t as lucky next time though as Massanka converted from a brilliant corner. The ball was aimed toward the six yard box and only required a little flick from the Shields number 9 to divert it past Catterick. With the scores level, Lowe tried his luck from range again. This time with a dipping effort toward the bottom left corner. Catterick dived to palm behind for a corner in what was a great save. Marske’s first chance of this half came via the ever-tricky Blackford. He took the ball past three or four Shields players before trying a little lofted ball for Dicicco’s head. Unfortunately this was overhit and caught with ease by Boney. A silly foul from Marske allowed an excellent opportunity for Shields. Lowe stood over the ball and whipped it toward the back stick from deep. Wheatley headed behind for a corner, which almost had the same outcome as Massanka’s earlier goal. This time Shaw met, but Catterick got down well to save. He injured himself in the process, during the scramble that followed. Massanka’s pace showed as he left May for dead and slot past Catterick. The linesman adjudged the Shields talisman to be offside though. This left the scores level, before Dicicco stepped up. Smith beat the Shields left back, played the ball along the area, Boyes left and Dicicco was there to slot into the bottom right hand corner, past the stranded Boney. Massanka threated in the dying moments, but his shot from close range could only fly wide. Marske, perhaps surprisingly, ran out 3-2 winners in a very hard fought game.

South Shields: Bonney, Hunter, Adams, Shaw, Morse (Trialist), Ross, Osei, Briggs, Massanka, Lowe, Tee

Marske: Catterick, May, Round, Hopson, Burgess, Wheatley, Smith, Gott, Boyes (Dicicco), Tymon, Blackford