Jordy Mongoy's dramatic late equaliser salvages point for South Shields in six-goal thriller

The substitute struck six minutes into stoppage time at Bower Fold to extend Shields' unbeaten record to 11 games and move them 11 points clear at the top of the Northern Premier League.

The away side had much to do when they fell two goals behind early on, with Harry Benns striking twice for Stalybridge.

Dylan Mottley-Henry pulled a goal back just after the half-hour but Raul Correia's penalty in first half stoppage time re-established the hosts' two-goal advantage.

Darius Osei gave Shields hope with four minutes left before Mongoy's decisive intervention deep into added time.

An unchanged Mariners team were caught out early on when Benns strode into the box before curling a shot home.

Myles Boney was beaten for a second time when he parried a Domaine Rouse strike and Benns was on hand to slam in the rebound to double his tally for the afternoon.

Shields' unbeaten run was under real threat but they again responded well and halved the deficit as Martin Smith's free-kick from the left found Mottley-Henry at the back post and the forward headed home.

Lewis Alessandra almost equalised with a tremendous effort as he received the ball with his back to goal before turning and unleashing a superb strike which home goalkeeper Joe O'Shaughnessy tipped wide.

Shields were gathering momentum but they were caught with a sucker punch on the stroke of half-time when Boney was adjudged to have fouled Chris Dagnall in the box and Correia crashed home from the spot.

That again left the Mariners with a two-goal deficit to overturn after the break, and they started their comeback attempt well as Alessandra headed inches past the post.

Stalybridge had opportunities to make the points safe, with the lively Theo Bailey-Jones having a header saved before later rifling the ball against the post from a tight angle.

Shields were running out of time but claimed a lifeline with four minutes remaining when a terrific Mottley-Henry cross was headed into the corner of the net by Osei.

Michael Woods, another substitute, had an opportunity to level in the next attack, but he fired over when well placed.

The game ticked into eight minutes of stoppage time and in the sixth of those, the pivotal moment arrived as Mottley-Henry brilliantly beat his man before his low shot was helped on by Osei and struck into the net from close range by Mongoy.

There was an even later opportunity for the Mariners to grab an unlikely win, but Osei's strike from the left of the box flew wide.

A point was ultimately well-received by Shields, who host FC United of Manchester on Tuesday night.

South Shields: Boney, Hunter, Adams (c), Liddle, Broadbent, Smith (Shokunbi 46), Heaney, Briggs (Woods 46), Osei, Alessandra (Mongoy 67), Mottley-Henry. Subs not used: Gomes, Doherty.

Goals: Mottley-Henry (31), Osei (86), Mongoy (90+6).

Attendance: 560.