South Shields 'didn't do enough' in Darlington defeat as blow delivered to title hopes

South Shields manager Ian Watson believes his side ‘just didn’t do enough’ as their National League North title hopes were delivered a potentially fatal blow by a 1-0 home defeat against North East rivals Darlington.

Watson’s side enjoyed a positive start to proceedings in front of over 3,300 supporters at the 1st Cloud Arena - but it was the Quakers that edged themselves in front just after the midway point of the first-half as two familiar faces combined to grab what would become the only goal of the game. Former Mariners loan signing Tom Allan used his electric pace and trickery to find some space down the left-hand side and his cross allowed Cedric Main to divert the ball beyond Jasper Sheik to ensure his found the net against his old club for the third consecutive season.

Despite enjoying large periods of possession during a second-half described as ‘attack versus defence’ by Darlington assistant manager Terry Mitchell, South Shields were repelled by an impressive defensive display from their visitors. There were chances for an equaliser as Quakers keeper Pete Jameson blocked Sonny Finch after the Mariners forward had beaten the offside trap and Lennon Wheeldon struck the crossbar from close range as the visitors backline looked for a flag that never arrived. There was one last burst and a final chance fell the way of Finch as the Middlesbrough academy graduate fired over the bar from around 12 yards with nine minutes of added-on time slipped away.

Mariners boss Watson delivered an open and honest assessment of his side’s display and admitted their decision-making in key areas has ultimately led to their downfall.

He told The Gazette: “I don’t think we played the occasion well enough. I think they turned up with loads of intensity and loads of desire from the start of the game. We didn’t really get to grips with the enough to be able to keep them out and the second-half, we gave everything, pushed everything forward, we tried to created as much as we could - but it wasn’t enough. We missed some really good opportunities, but ultimately, we just didn’t do enough. We worked the ball into good positions and then our decision making wasn’t there.”

Prepare

There was further bad news for Watson and his players as they left the pitch to discover title rivals AFC Fylde has edged a dramatic seven-goal thriller against Radcliffe despite almost wasting a three-goal advantage. The results in the North East and North West mean the Mariners are now six points adrift of the frontrunners - although they do have the benefit of holding a game in hand on the Coasters. Watson stressed his players will not change their approach towards the final weeks of the season as they look to keep their promotion hopes alive.

When asked if his players were mentally preparing for the play-offs, Watson replied: “Regardless of whether we are preparing for the play-offs or preparing for whatever, nothing really changes. You don’t change training sessions because you’re preparing for the play-offs and we don’t change our game. We just have to keep coming in and being us.”

South Shields: Sheik, Tinkler, Bainbridge, Sykes (McGurk), Blackett, Jenkins, Mann, Finch, Alcock (Wheeldon), McAndrew (Roles), Dodds (Kelly) Subs: Seymour, Morse, Smith

Darlington: Jameson, Barrow (Hedley), Platt, Lees, Forbes, Maskell, Main (Rutledge), Allan (Howells), Lowes, McGowan (Griffiths), Tweedy Subs: Barton, Mason

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