A debatable second-half penalty from Lee Paul Scroggins eventually settled the game, after the Mariners had gone into a two-goal first-half lead through Mark Johnson and Lee O'Donovan.

Shields had been coasting in the first half, but a mistake by James Oates before the interval allowed Bird to pull a goal back for Red Star.

And after Shields were again wasteful in front of goal after the turnaround, a wonder strike by Gardiner put the home side back on level terms.

But with five minutes remaining, the referee - who had earlier denied Shields what appeared a clear penalty for a foul on Tony Coe - pointed to the spot-kick after a Red Star defender was harshly adjudged to have handled, and Scroggins made no mistake from 12 yards.

Shields boss Gary Steadman said: "I thought Red Star were poor, and we should have been six up by half-time.

"We dominated the game, like we did against Ashington in the first game of the season, though this time we had plenty of chances.

"The penalty was very harsh, but I think the referee was evening things up after not giving us one earlier."