EBAC NORTHERN LEAGUE DIVISION TWO

DARLINGTON RA 1 SOUTH SHIELDS 3

By Ricky Butler at Brinkburn Road

IT WAS a case of the haves versus the have nots at Brinkburn Road last night as Ebac Northern League big spenders South Shields met the paupers from Darlington RA.

But for much of the contest it was hard to tell which was which. The RA paid the price for soft goals conceded at the start of each half to Lewis Teasdale and Adam Sakr, while substitute Christian Holliday's late effort came just moments after Barrie Smith had put the visitors 3-0 ahead.

Despite having one of the lowest budgets in the league, RA manager,Warren Moncur, was delighted with the spirit shown by his side. He said: “In patches I thought we were excellent tonight. I thought we worked our socks off.

“I'm not pleading poverty but for a team that hasn't got any money against the money men of the Northern League, I thought it was quite an even game.

“We gave an early goal away in the first half, an early goal in the second half, but apart from that I didn't think there was much in it.”

RA had been in the promotion race themselves before Christmas. But a poor run since the turn of the year had seen them drop down to eighth. Shields on the other hand, with enough money to attract ex Sunderland and Middlesbrough midfielder, Julio Arca, to Mariners Park, knew a win would take them nine points clear at the top.

Argentinian Arca, who played over 300 games in a 13 year professional career in the North-East, plays a slightly deeper role these days. But at 35 he is still able to dictate the pace of the game and came close to scoring here with a trademark first half free kick.

But Shields were already on their way by then. Just three minutes had elapsed when Adam Sakr's low cross from the right was turned home by Lewis Teasdale. A scrappy finish, perhaps, but a vital, early goal for the leaders.

That led to a dominant first half display from Shields. Stephen Ramsey headed narrowly wide in the 5^th minute while Sakr and John Grey were then both denied by a fine double save from RA goalkeeper, Phil Pentony.

The first chance for the hosts did not arrive until the 33^rd minute when Stephen Cheeseman's shot from a tight angle was deflected into the side netting. But moments later Arca was denied a goal on his return to Teesside as Pentony saved his free kick.

While it was only 1-0 the RA felt they were still very much in the game but all that changed within three minutes of the restart. Hesitance in the home defence was punished by the quick thinking of Sakr, who pounced to beat the exposed Pentony.

The home goalkeeper was being kept busy as he denied Teasdale a second, but the departure of Arca on the hour gave the RA fresh impetus.

Shields goalkeeper Gareth Young did well to keep out a free kick from the dangerous Jim Wilson, the hosts' first effort on target, but it was another save from Young which began the break that led to the leaders adding the killer third goal.

Young's punched clearance found substitute Danny Carson and his ball released Teasdale, who in turn found defender Smith. Showing the touch and finish of a striker, Smith rounded Pentony before squeezing the ball home from a tight angle.

Almost immediately however, the RA were rewarded for their improved second half display. Young denied Wilson again before a goalmouth scramble ended with substitute Holliday firing in from close range.

It would have been a nervy finish for Shields had Young not then denied Sam England and substitute Jon Pearson as the RA finished strongly, but the leaders held on for an important three points.

Shields assistant manager, Gary Middleton, was satisfied with his team's performance. He said: “This is always a difficult place to come, especially on a Tuesday night. The pitch wasn't very good but you have to come to places like this and put in a good performance.

“We asked the players get out of the traps quickly, which they did. I thought we took our foot off the pedal for the last twenty minutes of the first half but overall I am very pleased.”

In Valentine's week they say money can't buy you love but it certainly can buy you a decent Northern League side. So while Shields will surely continue to march serenely into Division One, and from there who knows where, little RA will keep trying to defy the odds.

DARLINGTON RA – Pentony 8, Leven 6, Grocott 6, Johnson 7, Weston 7, Cheesman 8, Wilson(N) 7, Kokes 6, England 7, Wilson(J 7, Hanratty 8. SUBS – Wood 6, Holliday 7, Pearson 7, Ward N/A.

SOUTH SHIELDS – Young 7, Smith 8, Grey 7, Hassan 7, Riding 8, Briggs 7, Sakr 8, Arca 8, Ramsay 7, Teasdale 7, Phillips 7. SUBS – Carson 7, Kanda 6, Hall 6, Turner N/A, Pocklington N/A.

REFEREE – Jamie Cann 7 - Controlled the game well