Second successive league defeat for South Shields as Julio Arca is sent off

Despite dominating possession, the Mariners were unable to create any clear-cut chances.

As the game became more stretched in the latter stages, with Shields pushing for a winner, they were caught out at the other end, and Arca was given his marching orders for a last man foul with seven minutes remaining.

The Northern League Division Two leaders were unable to hold out for a point, with Sam Garvie slotting home the only goal of the game a minute before the end to spark home celebrations.

It marked a second successive defeat in the league for Shields, who failed to score in a match for the first time this season.

They remain six points clear at the top, though, after Ryhope CW lost 3-2 at home to third-placed Chester-le-Street Town on the same day.

The teams chasing promotion are now closely bunched, with seven points separating the top four.

Shields and Synthonia both struggled to gain any rhythm on what was an uneven surface, but the visitors did have the majority of the ball from the outset.

The hosts were content to sit deep, and although they conceded most of the ball and territory, they restricted the Mariners’ opportunities, with home goalkeeper Jack McLaren not seriously tested during the 90 minutes.

The best Shields could manage was a host of half-chances, the first of which came in the 10th minute, when David Foley was just unable to get on the end of a Ben Riding cross.

Warren Byrne fired wide soon after as Jon King’s side pressed, while the Mariners’ top scorer had another shot blocked before a decent cross from John Grey almost found Leepaul Scroggins. It was the story of their day.

A menacing corner from Foley took a deflection and just evaded one of the Shields attackers, while a penalty appeal was turned down after Byrne fell in the box.

It remained one-way traffic for the rest of the half, but again McLaren was not kept busy.

After a terrific run from the left by Foley, Byrne had an effort blocked, while the hosts did excellently to cut out a through ball by Byrne just as Foley was about to run through on goal.

A similarly important intervention came soon after when Foley looked set to shoot, while Byrne was played in by a superb Arca ball, but the offside flag was controversially raised.

The sides went in at half-time with the game goalless, and Shields knew their creativity would have to improve to make their possession and territorial advantage count.

However, it was Synthonia who created the first chance of the second half, with a stinging volley by Matthew Osmond palmed over by goalkeeper Gareth Young.

At the other end, some mesmerising skill by Arca saw him beat his man on the right before whipping over a cross which just evaded those in the middle.

The visitors saw appeals for a penalty again waved away when Foley fell under a challenge, and Arca had a shot blocked as it looked set to be one of those days.

The Shields possession became more and more dominant at that stage, and Byrne had two efforts blocked.

However, after that spell of pressure, Synthonia came more into it as the game became more stretched.

A shot from a tight angle was well held by Young as the hosts fired a warning that they were still capable of taking maximum points. With seven minutes left, they underlined that even more.

A Shields corner was twice cleared and Synthonia broke. All it took was one pass to put a home attacker through on goal, and with Arca chasing him, the midfielder had little option but to sacrifice himself and take the inevitable red card for a professional foul as he pulled him back.

Synners the points with a minute remaining when Osmond ran at the defence from the right and slipped a ball through to Garvie, who did brilliantly to take it past Shields debutant Ibby Hassan before firing low past Young.

SOUTH SHIELDS: Young, Carson, Grey (Hall 81), Hassan, Riding, Arca, Sakr (Teasdale 57), Scroggins (c), Byrne, Foley, Phillips (Wightman 73). Subs not used: Pocklington, Briggs.

Sent off: Arca (83).

Attendance: 352.