'Absolute warrior' David Carson praises South Shields after play-off semi-final win

David Carson moved swiftly into recovery mode after marking his first start in almost five months with a hardworking display in South Shields’ National League North play-off semi-final win against Buxton.

The former Livingston and Inverness Caledonian Thistle midfielder was a surprise inclusion in Ian Watson’s starting eleven as the Mariners boss prepared to go into action without key man Will Jenkins for the first time this season. Carson produced an industrious display in the heart of midfield in a game that required a steely and hardworking approach as both sides fought a nervy battle.

A Paul Blackett penalty during the first-half separated the two sides when the full-time whistle was blown after almost 100 minutes of a tense affair at the 1st Cloud Arena - and Carson, who was described as an ‘absolute warrior’ by his manager after the game, stressed his side got the battle they were expecting as they finally beat Buxton at the third attempt this season.

He told The Gazette: “I feel ok, I think the adrenaline got me through it. I might feel it tonight or tomorrow but it will be a good feeling with us getting through to the final. I’ll dust myself down, get myself recovered and get ready to go again next week. We have been told they have won ten of their last eleven games so we knew it would be tough and we knew what they’d come with but I thought we were worthy winners in the end. We had a few chances, so did they, but overall I thought we deserved to take the win and move on to the final.”

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