CLEETHORPES TOWN V SOUTH SHIELDS

FA Vase Final 

The first of the finals is the Vase, with Cleethorpes Town, winners of the Northern Counties East League taking on Northern League champions South Shields. By kick off the South Shields section of the ground is rapidly filling and extends into the third tier with a few fans up in the gods; the Cleethorpes section is also well-populated but takes up less space and so far only a few fans of the Trophy finalists have taken the opportunity of seeing the extra game.

South Shields must be favourites. Apart from their Northern League pedigree (the league has provided seven of the last eight winners) they have already won two local cup finals and their league win included a run of thirty-two consecutive victories. But Cleethorpes are not just here to make up the numbers; they are a club on the up with a move to a new ground in the offing.

We get the national anthem with the teams lined up, South Shields in maroon and light blue, Cleethorpes in dark blue and black stripes. Then the game gets under way.

South Shields settle in quickly and prompted by star man Arca in midfield push their opponents back in their own half. A header wide and a good move between Cogden and Stephenson doesn’t bode well for Cleethorpes, but they weather the storm and after twenty minutes their front man Robertson finds enough space to get a shot on target that keeper Connell saves. Soon the ball is back in the South Shields box, finding centre forward Cooper, but he can’t sort his feet out in time to do any damage.

Going the other way, Cogden continues to be busy harassing the Cleethorpes defence as well as darting hither and thither looking for space. He frees up a teammate on the left whose shot is blocked by keeper Higton, conceding a corner. Two more corners follow rapidly and from the third the ball comes out to Phillips who hits a rising shot over the bar. Phillips is having more of an impact when he carries the ball with speed and step-overs, often before crossing dangerously.

With half time approaching Cogden again runs at speed into the box and this time is brought down for a penalty; Finnigan steps up and calmly rolls the ball into the goal leaving the wrong-footed keeper sat down. It’s timely for South Shields whose dominance had lacked reward till then; and a disappointment for Cleethorpes whose plucky defending nearly got them to half time on level terms.

It is nearly a double whammy as there is still time for Cogden again to weave into the box and shoot powerfully. Higton does brilliantly to get a hand on the shot and deflect it onto the post, then bar; the ball rebounds to Cogden but his header goes wide of the other post.

The second half starts as the first did with South Shields in charge. A Foley shot is tipped over the bar and one from Cogden is saved. Again Cleethorpes survive and up front Cooper and Robertson make the best of scraps of possession. They almost get through on goal but a last ditch South Shields challenge deflects the attempt for a corner. From a later corner Connell fumbles a catch but his defenders clear before damage is done. It looks like one goal may not be enough, though several Cleethorpes players are exhibiting signs of cramp and fatigue.

South Shields redouble their attacking efforts with shots on target from Foley and, on as substitutes, Richardson and Briggs. With ten minutes left they win a free kick just outside the box and with most expecting a shot, Briggs instead curls an in-swinging cross to the far post where centre half Morse rises to head firmly goal-wards. Although Higton gets something on the close-range effort he cannot prevent the ball entering the net.

Cleethorpes visibly sag as hope evaporates; in contrast Shields get a boost. With full time minutes away Richardson slides a through ball to Foley; he’s forty yards from goal but runs confidently up to the keeper before slotting the ball home for the third goal. Barely a minute later Foley again has the ball at his feet and this time cuts inside and unleashes an unstoppable drive into the corner of the net for a fourth.

The referee stops the contest after a couple of added minutes. The two late goals have put a gloss on South Shields’ win, which nevertheless was well earned. The four nil score line is harsh on Cleethorpes, though their keeper had been worked hard throughout.

After much milling about the teams wearily climb the steps up to the royal box to receive medals and in South Shields’ case the Vase itself, which they show at length to their joyous fans.