A first-half strike from Paul Blackett proved the difference as Moors fell to a narrow defeat at The Brewery Field.

The visitors opened the scoring through Blackett as he connected with a good ball over the top before poking home the only goal of the evening.

The first big chance of the evening came on 10 minutes as Cedwyn Scott went close for the visitors. However, Matt Urwin did well to deny him with his outstretched leg.

Urwin was on hand again just a minute later as he again denied Scott. This time from even closer range with a strong, right handed stop.

Moors carved out a half chance as Danny Johnson’s looped cross into the area had to be clawed away from goal by Shields ‘keeper Jasper Sheik, before Connor Pani was forced to produce a good block on the edge of the area at the other end soon after.

South Shields found the opener on the 23rd minute mark. An excellent ball over the defence from Toby Onanaye found Blackett’s run into the area, where he poked home past Urwin and into the bottom right corner

Two brilliant blocks in quick succession from Connor Pani prevented Shields from testing Urwin, allowing Moors to clear the danger.

Moors looked to end the first half positively, as a whipped corner bobbled around inside the area, only to be fired over the bar and behind for a goal-kick.

There was nearly an equaliser on the just seconds before half time as Finlay Holcroft found Johnson with a low cross from the right. The striker spun onto his right foot, but saw his shot deflected over for a corner.

A chance came for Moors on the 54th minute as Matty Dolan took aim from distance. His long range strike thought, dropped just wide of the right post.

Moors continued their early second half pressure, this time through Johnson’s low shot from the right of the box. His effort was routinely swept up by Sheik.

Both sides saw headed efforts go to waste as the half progressed. Moors defender, Frankie Whelan smashed a header just wide after he connected with a good ball into the far post, before Daniel Dodds saw his header claimed by Urwin.

A huge chance for the visitors to double their lead came with just five minutes remaining as substitute, Lucas De Bolle capitalised on an error at the back. He drove forward down the right hand side and found Caden Kelly open in the box, who somehow failed to hit the target from close range.

Just a few minutes later, the visitors won a free kick on the edge of the box. Kelly stepped up to take the set-piece, only for his well-struck effort to hit the crossbar.

Urwin was called into some late action as Kelly’s second free-kick in quick succession found the target. The Moors shotstopper did well to get across and palm the strike wide of the right hand post.

Full time: Moors 0-1 South Shields

Moors: Urwin, Holcroft, Whelan, Pani, Eguabior, Jones, Cantrill (Dolan 36), Young, Palmer (Rehman 69), Johnson (Mondal 79), Taylor (Moors 46)

Subs not used: James, Miller, Bennett

Booked: Jones 90

Referee: Samuel Bragg

Attendance: 1458 (299 away)

Written by Sean Whitaker