Arca on the spot as South Shields win at Consett

Julio Arca scores from the penalty spot. Picture by Peter Talbot

On a blustery and bitterly cold night at Belle View, the game appeared destined for extra-time.

However, Shields were awarded a spot-kick six minutes before the end, and Arca converted it to set up a quarter-final tie with Gateshead.

It was a welcome and deserved return to winning ways for Jon King’s side, who had suffered a defeat on penalties to Morpeth Town in the FA Vase last Wednesday and a loss at Ryhope in the league on Saturday.

Shields had the wind at their backs in the first half, and enjoyed much the better of the play.

Jonny Wightman saw an effort saved by Peter Jeffries from a tight angle, while Daryll Hall sent one not far wide in the early stages.

David Foley almost put them ahead against the Northern League Division One side in the ninth minute, but with his corner destined to find the top corner, Jeffries clawed it away.

The Shields pressure continued, with Wightman denied with a header, Foley curling a shot wide and then Ryan McKinnon hitting his own crossbar with a header.

Just before half-time, Ben Riding headed narrowly over as the sides went in at the break level.

In the second half, Consett enjoyed the advantage of the wind, and went direct.

The hosts seemed to adopt a shoot on sight policy at the start of the half, with Gareth Young palming behind a Luke Sullivan shot and then McKinnon heading over from the resulting corner.

Young was impressive between the sticks for Shields, who grew into the half.

Hall had two headers well saved, while at the other end, Young did brilliantly to tip Michael Sweet’s drive onto the bar 14 minutes before the end.

As the Mariners fans chanted “Consett is freezing, we want to go home!”, their side set about avoiding extra-time.

Leepaul Scroggins hit the bar with a stinging shot, and when the ball was recycled, Lewis Teasdale was bundled over by Jeffries.

Former Sunderland and Middlesbrough midfielder Arca claimed the ball and sent Jeffries the wrong way from the spot to put Shields on course for the quarter-finals.

They saw the game out to seal the last eight tie with Gateshead and a second win over Consett this season, having triumphed 1-0 after extra-time in the FA Vase in November.

South Shields: Young, Smith (Ramsey 73), Turner, Hall, Riding, Arca, Foley, Scroggins (c), Wightman, Teasdale, Phillips. Subs not used: Pocklington, Briggs, Byrne, Bulford. Goal: Arca (pen, 86).