Corey McKeown’s second half equaliser proved enough to earn hard-working Moors a point against title-chasing South Shields at The Brewery Field.
The visitors took the lead just before the break as former moors man, Paul Blackett glanced the ball home from close range, before McKeown fired a low strike past Jasper Sheik to level the scores with 18 minutes to play.
Brad James was called into action in the opening stages when he had to stop Lennon Wheeldon’s powerful strike from 10 yards out, as he got a firm hand behind the ball to parry it away.
Another chance was thwarted by James soon after, as Cain Sykes found Blackett at the front post. The striker took aim on the volley, but saw the effort swallowed up by the Moors keeper.
Blackett went close in the 21st minute when he found space on the edge of the area to curl a low effort towards the bottom right-hand corner. The ball looked destined to nestle in the back of the net, but James got down to his left to tip the ball wide of the mark.
Moors created their first big chance of the game just shy of the half hour mark, as Mackenzie Heaney found Glen Taylor at the front post. The frontman looked to navigate a first-time effort into the back of the net, but saw the strike go just wide.
Sonny Finch smashed an effort well over the bar with 15 minutes of the second half remaining, before Blackett was yet again foiled by James.
The Mariners went on to take the lead with just a minute to go until the break, Blackett finally got the better of James.
A ball in from the right-hand side, courtesy of Sykes, found Blackett at the front post, who glanced a header past James and into the bottom left corner of the net.
Ian Watson’s side could’ve had another right before the break when Wheeldon went for goal, only to see his strike deflected wide by Dan Jones.
The visitors weren’t done there, as they started the second half with real intent. A quick counterattack from Shields saw the ball find its way to Blackett on the edge of the area. He struck a powerful effort, only to see it go over the bar.
Taylor found space to strike with 57 minutes on the clock, but his low effort was comfortably claimed by sub goalkeeper, Sheik at his feet.
An awkward moment from Jones almost saw The Mariners double their advantage, as Finch’s low ball from the right deflected up off the boot of Moors’ number 3 before landing on the roof of the net.
Moors finally found the equaliser with 72 minutes on the clock, as Corey McKeown tucked home from inside the area. A pinpoint through-ball from Mackenzie Heaney found the in-form winger free in the middle. He drove towards goal, before slotting the ball home past Sheik, who had darted off his line, to celebrate his fifth goal in six games.
There was a real scare for Tommy Miller and Matty Dolan’s side immediately after the restart, however, when Blackett struck a low effort off the inside of the left post, which somehow bounced off the line and away from danger.
Blackett continued to pose a threat to the Moors defence, only for his low effort in the 83rd minute to bobble wide of the left post.
Substitute Jack Roles produced a powerful effort with three minutes of normal time remaining, which took a deflection on its way through, only for James to yet again keep The Mariners’ attacks at bay.
Ian Watson’s side went close to stealing all three points in the dying embers of stoppage time through the most ridiculous of circumstances. A lofted ball from the right proved awkward for Brad James, who misread the flight cross. The ball looped over the Moors number one, before striking the root of the left post before luckily being cleared by a Moors defender.
An important point at The Brewery Field as Moors extended their unbeaten run to seven games. Focus now shifts to Easter Monday’s trip to play-off challengers Scarborough Athletic at the Mounting Systems Stadium.
Full Time: Moors 1 South Shields 1
Moors: James, Pollock, Jones, Hill, Stephenson (Mondal 79), Dyson, Heaney, McKeown, Salkeld (Beals 46), Ramshaw; Taylor.
Subs not used: Johnson, Hancox, Williams, Foreman, Nouble.
Booked: Salkeld (33), Jones (60), Dyson (90).
South Shields (4-4-2): Watson (Sheik 46); Sykes, Tinkler, Mann, Bainbridge; Finch, Jenkins, Alcock, Dodds (McAndrew 82); Blackett, Wheeldon (75).
Subs not used: Morse, Smith, Kelly, Savage.
Booked: Finch (56), Dodds (67).
Referee: Oliver Noonan
Attendance: 2,133 (522 South Shields)
Report by Noah Betts