Watson wants South Shields to keep calm after win against title rivals AFC Fylde

Ian Watson called for calm after South Shields boosted their bid for promotion into the National League with a hard-earned 2-1 home win against title rivals AFC Fylde.

The Mariners produced a barnstorming start to the second-half after the two sides failed to break the deadlock in an energetic opening 45 minutes as Paul Blackett and Sean McGurk both found the net within ten minutes of the restart. Fylde got back into the game in the closing stages when Daniel Ormerod netted - but Watson’s men held on to secure what could be a big three points in their push for non-league’s top tier.

The Mariners boss was naturally delighted with his side’s win but he stressed they must show the right mentality as they go looking for a fourth consecutive win when they host Curzon Ashton on Saturday.

The Mariners boss told The Gazette: “It’s not even close to being done yet. There’s still 12 games to go yet and I don’t think people believe me but the league table, it means nothing to me. We just have to come in tomorrow, get the boys ready for Saturday and regardless of the result tonight, we have to be ready for Saturday because Saturday is another massive game. The boys were amazing tonight, absolutely amazing and it’s not me putting a dampener on it but we have to go again and we have to get the mentality right for the weekend.”

The two sides produced an opening period full of energy and intensity - but neither were able to really create a meaningful opportunity until the midway point of the half when Coasters winger Jon Ustabasi brought a smart save out of South Shields goalkeeper Tom Watson. The on-loan Wigan Athletic youngster was also equal to a shot from in-form Coasters forward Daniel Ormerod moments later as he continued to show his undoubted potential and ability. The game remained goalless as the half-hour approached and that was also the point when the Mariners started to grow into the game as they started making headway in their efforts to create opportunities.

Positive

McGurk was first to try his luck as his curling effort was palmed to safety by visitors keeper Jones before Will Jenkins found a way beyond the Coasters number one only to see his shot sneak beyond the far post. However, it was Jack Roles who enjoyed the best chance of the first half as he directed a header beyond the far post after he escaped his marker to get on the end of a sumptuous ball in behind the defence from Robbie Tinkler.

The momentum from that positive end to the opening 45 minutes carried into a spectacular opening spell in the second half as the Mariners hit a quickfire double. The breakthrough came just four minutes after the restart as Blackett hit his sixth goal in four games with an instinctive finish from a Cain Sykes cross and the lead was doubled moments later when the lively Finch found McGurk and he kept his composure to beat the helpless Jones.

The biggest danger posed to South Shields came from themselves as goalkeeper Watson came within inches of diverting a corner kick from the left into his own net with just under 15 minutes remaining. The Coasters did find a way back into the game in the closing stages as the ever dangerous Ormerod found a way beyond Watson with a typically clinical finish - but the Mariners saw out seven minutes of injury-time to secure a big three points and reclaim their place at the top of the league table.

Special group

The win also means the Mariners have now collected maximum points from their last three games after they dropped two points with a 2-2 draw at AFC Telford United just over two weeks ago. Watson hailed the togetherness of his players and believes they are more than capable of creating further ‘special moments’ as the final stages of an already exciting season draw ever closer.

He said: “We asked the boys to react after a moment against Telford where we took our concentration levels off. Since then, the boys have been amazing and we are more together in there than we ever have been. They love each other, we call each other a little family and it’s a special group in there. Hopefully we keep creating these really special moments.”

South Shields: Watson, Tinkler, Sykes, McGurk, Robson (Alcock), Blackett (Morse), Jenkins, Mann, Finch (Ward), Dodds, Roles (Wheeldon) Subs: Smith

AFC Fylde: Jones, McFadyen, Merrie, Thomas (Rodriguez-Gentile), Mayor (Mitchell), Ustabasi, Healy-Byrne (Coates), Lancaster, Whelan, Ormerod Subs: Boyes, Mitchell, Taylor, Wilson, McKay

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