WATCH: South Shields ease into FA Vase third round by seeing off Marske

Carl Finnigan watches on as his header - just about - crosses the line for South Shields against Marske United. Image by Peter Talbot.

South Shields eased into the third round of the FA Vase with a comfortable 2-0 win over Marske United on Saturday.

After goals from Carl Finnigan and David Foley had put the Mariners in front within the first 20 minutes, they never looked likely to allow their visitors back into the game at Mariners Park.

It was an impressive response by the home side to the derby defeat to North Shields seven days earlier, and a welcome win over a Marske team which had beaten them already this season in the FA Cup, and also claimed a 0-0 draw in the league.

Danny Carson and Andrew Stephenson celebrate with goalscorer David Foley after South Shields went 2-0 up against Marske United. Image by Peter Talbot.

The Mariners will find out their third round opponents when the draw is made on Monday lunchtime.

Marske started Saturday’s match brightly, and tested Liam Connell within the first 40 seconds when he did well to hold an effort from distance from Glen Butterworth.

However, rather than being the start of something, that was as good as it got for the visitors.

Andrew Stephenson fired them a warning when he hit an effort wide from 25 yards, before the Mariners took the lead in the 15th minute.

David Foley was in impressive form for South Shields against Marske United. Image by Peter Talbot.

Julio Arca’s dangerous corner from the right was headed down by Finnigan and then nodded against the crossbar by Marske’s Lee Brockbank before being scrambled away, but the officials ruled the ball had already crossed the line.

It was soon 2-0 as Danny Carson linked up well with brother David on the left before driving inside and hitting a shot which was blocked into the path of Foley, who was ruthless as he half volleyed the ball into the bottom corner.

Shields went incredibly close to making it three when Foley burst forward from the inside-left of the box towards goal before crossing, and when Finnigan’s header was off target, Foley retrieved it by diverting the ball back across goal. This time, it fell the way of Robert Briggs, and his snap-shot was excellently cleared off the line by Adam Wheatley as the visitors survived the scramble.

Foley was causing no end of problems for Marske, and he was inches away from scoring his second of the afternoon when Finnigan played him in on the inside-left of the box, and he rattled a shot against the post.

The two teams stood for a minute's silence ahead of the game to mark Remembrance weekend. Image by Peter Talbot.

Shields kept the ball alive and eventually it was worked to Foley again, this time on the inside-right of the area, and he pulled it across goal for David Carson, who could only shoot over.

The one-way traffic continued in the second half, with Marske goalkeeper Robert Dean repeatedly keeping Foley, Finnigan, Briggs and Craig Baxter at bay.

One of them was a superb one-handed save from Foley after Shields cut them open, and another was a parry from the same player.

The ball broke to Finnigan, whose header was cleared off the line by substitute Matthew Bell.

The only real doubt throughout the second half had been what the Mariners’ margin of victory would be, but they had to settle for 2-0 in the end as they booked their place in round three.

Blyth Town are the visitors to Mariners Park on Tuesday for a League Cup tie as Shields aim to maintain a challenge on four fronts.

SOUTH SHIELDS: Connell, Baxter, Danny Carson, Shaw (Riding 63), Morse, Arca (c), Briggs (Smith 85), Stephenson (Phillips 80), Finnigan, David Carson, Foley. Subs not used: Parkin, Ramsey.

Goals: Finnigan (15), Foley (20).

Attendance: 1,116.