South Shields one game away from first round proper after FA Cup penalty heroics

The Mariners’ goalkeeper saved two Southport penalties to secure a shoot-out victory for Shields, who had come back from behind against their National League North hosts.

Southport took a first-half lead in bizarre circumstances, as the ball looked to drop out of play before nestling in the back of the net - with the strike eventually awarded as an own-goal.

And having more than matched their hosts for the majority of the contest, Shields grabbed a deserved equaliser with 15 minutes left to play as Darius Osei tapped home from Alex Kempster’s low cross.

That sent the game to penalties, where Boney saved from Russell Benjamin and Charlie Oliver to take Shields to within one game of the first round proper.

The draw for the fourth qualifying round will be made on Thursday.