Match Report: South Shields 2-0 Chester
South Shields claimed all three points in the North-East as a goal in either half from Kyle Crossley and Paul Blackett ended the Seals’ 11-game unbeaten run.
After a very quiet start at the 1st Cloud Arena, the hosts had the first big chance through Kyle Crossley, after Dylan Stephenson dispossessed Nathan Woodthorpe just inside the Chester half.
The ball fell to Crossley around 15 yards from goal, but his low effort was held by Jimmy Storer in comfortable fashion.
The same forward caused more problems for Chester just a few minutes later, when he found himself in behind the Seals’ back line and looked to have a golden chance to open the scoring.
Just as he was about to pull the trigger though, Crossley lost his balance while under pressure from Harrison Burke, and his eventual tame effort was straight at Storer.
A looped corner from Declan Weeks brought the Seals their first clear sight of goal but Burke’s header flew well over Myles Boney and the home goal.
It was a positive first half for the hosts and they took a deserved lead into the break when the ball fell to Crossley on the edge of the box before his strike deflected off a yellow shirt into the back of the net.
The change of direction wrong-footed Storer in the Yellows’ net and gave him no chance, as a run of back-to-back clean sheets was halted.
Calum McIntyre responded at the interval and made two changes, with the additions of both Dan Mooney and Kev Roberts for Fin Roberts and Jordan Hunter.
The Seals went on the offensive after the restart and Connell Rawlinson had an opportunity within a minute of the referee’s whistle but his header was cleared off the line.
South Shields almost doubled their advantage soon after but Will Jenkins’ drilled strike rolled just wide of the post.
Chester pushed back though and went within inches of an equaliser when Iwan Murray’s strike was cleared off the line.
Woodthorpe rushed on to the ball on the left wing before he fed Connor Woods who laid off to Murray but the 24-year-old’s effort was blocked in crucial fashion by Robert Briggs.
The Seals’ left-back was involved again just moments later, as Woodthorpe smashed a dangerous strike towards goal that narrowly flew over the bar.
Elliott Dickman’s side delivered a sucker-punch in the 79th minute through talisman Paul Blackett, who found himself in space inside the 18-year-box before he finished with power past Storer into the bottom corner.
It was the end of Chester’s impressive seven-game victorious streak, after a scrappy affair in the North-East in which South Shields were solid at the back and showed quality going forward to earn all three points.
Calum McIntyre’s men return to action on Tuesday for a crucial clash with Kidderminster Harriers down CH1, as both clubs look to bounce back from tough defeats, after Harriers’ home loss to Chorley at Aggborough.
Match Report by Tom Bird.
CHESTER FC: Storer, Hunter (K.Roberts 46′), Burke, Rawlinson, Woodthorpe, Weeks, Bainbridge, Murray (Willoughby , Woods, F. Roberts (Mooney 46′), Peers.
Subs not used: Pollock, Burgess.
Scorers: None
Attendance: 2,125.