South Shields and Morpeth Town have to settle for a point after fiery encounter

South Shields failed to win for a third consecutive home game as they battled their way to a goalless draw with North East rivals Morpeth Town after an eventful 90 minutes at the 1st Cloud Arena.
South Shields and Morpeth Town drew 0-0 in a fiery encounter.South Shields and Morpeth Town drew 0-0 in a fiery encounter.
South Shields and Morpeth Town drew 0-0 in a fiery encounter.

Looking to move on from Saturday’s defeat against Matlock Town, it was the Mariners that created the first chances of the game after a high-energy start from both sides.

With the ten-minute mark approaching, Graham Fenton and Lee Picton’s created a trio of opportunities as Alex Kempster was denied by a brave block by Jeff Henderson, Dillon Morse headed wide and Blair Adams brought a simple save out of Highwaymen keeper Dan Lowson.

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One of the highlights of the opening half-hour was the physical battle between visitors’ striker Liam Henderson and Mariners debutant Ciaran Jones.

Both players found their way into the referee’s notebook for challenges on each other – and they were far from alone as three other players met a similar fate as the game turned increasingly tetchy.

A Liam Noble free-kick that was comfortably taken by Mariners keeper Myles Boney gave Morpeth their first sight of goal – but it was the Mariners that continued to enjoy the better of the chances and they were denied by the woodwork midway through the half.

A neat cross from Callum Ross found the head of Jason Gilchrist, but the striker could only send his effort against the crossbar and narrowly failed to force the rebound into the net.

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Late chances fell to Morpeth duo Sam Hodgson and Jack Foalle – but both were easily gathered by Mariners number one Boney as they half ended goalless.

The visitors created their best chance of the game ten minutes into the second-half when a brave, last-ditch block from Craig Baxter denied Foalle after the forward had been played in on goal by strike partner Liam Henderson.

An injury to Alex Kempster saw Mariners forward Darius Osei introduced into the game and he should have put his side ahead as the hour-mark passed.

The former Stalybridge Celtic man broke the offside trap but fired wildly over the angle of crossbar and post as he was closed down by Stephen Forster.

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That proved to be the last real chance of the game as the referee proved to be the busiest man on the pitch handing out a total of 14 yellow cards.

Perhaps for that reason, the full-time whistle was welcome as both sides shared the spoils after a boisterous affair.

South Shields: Boney, Hunter, Adams, Ross, Morse, Jones (Baxter), Turnbull, Briggs, Glichrist, Verstraaten (Gillies), Kempster (Osei) Subs: Agnew, McCamley

Morpeth Town: Lowson, Oliver, Forster, Hodgson, J Henderson, Turner, Walton (Sayer), Noble (Williams), Foalle, L Henderson (Finnigan), Johnson Subs: Hutchinson, Reid

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