SHILDON V MARSKE UNITED

Northern League Division 1

Dean Street is not so familiar today as my usual haunt, the covered terrace opposite the main stand, has disappeared, demolished to make way for a new all-seater stand. Instead A Good Cup Run takes a seat in the main ‘Pagoda’ stand. Here seat choice is crucial if a view of both goals is wanted unimpeded by the substantial supporting pillars.

The teams are familiar enough, the home team pretty settled and the visitors packed with well-known Northern League stalwarts. These two teams have been top five finishers for the last few years and have both started this season well; Shildon are unbeaten and Marske have won eight out of ten.

The opening is cagey and competitive. It is nearly twenty minutes before any goal is threatened. Craig Gott smacks a twenty-five yard drive against the Shildon bar and keeper, Nick Liversedge, has to get back to his feet quickly to save the follow up attempt.

Shildon’s possession has little end product and Marske come close again when Liversedge is drawn out of position and has to rely on young centre half Dominic Curl heading the ball off the line.

Shildon start the second half better and a thrust down the left and along the goal line by Adam Burnicle creates a tap-in chance for Billy Greulich-Smith, which he gratefully converts. The home team can’t build on the lead and increasingly look to hold on to what they’ve got.

Marske create several openings but either fluff them under pressure or are foiled by last ditch tackles from Curl and second half substitute Kyle May. Just when it looks like Marske will never score, they do so from an unlikely angle; James Fairley takes a corner from the left that somehow evades the giant reach of Liversedge and goes straight into the net.

With time just about up it looks like honours even when Marske are awarded a free kick forty yards out. Quick thinking Fairley immediately puts the ball on the deck and lofts it over the unprepared Liversedge, who is left for the second time grasping at air as the ball sails over him and into the net.

There is barely time to kick off again before the referee ends the game. Shildon’s unbeaten start to the season is over and Marske have now won nine out of eleven, including this excellent scalp.