Lewis Alessandra equalises from the bench as Matlock Town hold South Shields to 1-1 draw in the Pitching In Northern Premier League.
Connor Dimalo scored the only goal of the first half to fire the visitors in front in the 37th minute.
South Shields battled hard and in the 85th minute equalised through Lewis Alessandra.
The Gladiators started the game with a point to prove and looked the better side in the opening twenty minutes, Myles Boney made a great stop low to deny a long-ranged effort from Matlock in the 17th minute.
Shields were reduced to long ranged efforts in the first half as Matlock defended admirably, Mackenzie Heaney tried to curl one from range on the 22nd minute mark but his effort was wide of the far post.
In the 29th minute, the Mariners had a massive let off as Boney passed a ball straight to Karl Demidh who virtually had just the game to aim for but blazed his shot over the bar.
Matlock kept going and in the 37th minute Dimalo hit his shot well into the bottom corner, after a poor clearance from Shields, to ensure his side went into the half-time break as leaders.
South Shields came out in the second half and still struggled to break down the defence of the Gladiators.
Matlock Town were pinned back, however, but looked comfortable in maintaining their 1-0 lead.
The best chance came in the 54th as Heney played in a corner which fell to Martin Smith, who then passed to Robert Briggs, but the long serving Mariner dragged his shot wide.
Shields kept on attacking and Heaney would have equalised with his trademark curled effort if not for a great block by Jamie Sharman at the last second to deny him in the 64th minute.
The away side were defending for their lives throughout the second half, but Shields could not find that clinical finish to put them level.
In the 82nd minute, Matlock Town almost doubled their lead through Jerome Slew, off the bench, but Boney made a great save to deny him and keep his side in it.
But the hard work for Shields finally paid off and in the 85th minute, Lewis Alessandra poked home a dropped ball from James Pollard in goal, drawing the match level.
It was certainly too little too late for the Mariner as Kevin Phillip’s side could not find another goal to take them in the lead and had to settle for a point.
South Shields: Boney, Hunter. Adams (c), Liddle, Broadbent, Smith, Heaney, Briggs, Osei, Shokunbi (Alessandra 63), Mottley-Henry. Subs not used: Dobson, Mongoy, Morse, Woods.
Goal: Alessandra (85).
Attendance: 2047.
Image: Kev Wilson
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