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South Shields 4-0 Scarborough Athletic (National League North)

The rain is pelting down on my car, that tinny sound it makes sounding harder than it actually is as I drive back down the A19 and through the Tyne Tunnel (£2.50 again) in rush hour with windscreen wipers on the go after my quick stop and go at Starbucks.

South Shields are leading the National League North. A team with ambition since Geoff Thompson took on the club in 2015.

The Utilitywise founder, owner of a British energy consulting company, has since led a side towards more silverware than many more significant clubs in England during his tenure. A Northern League second division title in 2016 was followed by Northern League first division and FA Vase success in 2017, followed by a third successive championship and promotion, that of the Northern Premier League Division One North, in 2018.

A second placed finish in the Northern Premier League ended with playoff defeat in 2019, the year after, South Shields were top of the division as COVID wiped out the campaign. The Mariners however, finally reaching the National League North after winning the NPL in 2023 after five (two interrupted) seasons at the level.

Since, it has been about getting familiar with the sixth tier of English football, and this season the side under the management of Ian Watson have been familiar with winning again, top of the division, three points and a game in hand above AFC Fylde, and tonight's opponents Scarborough, who are third.

Scarborough manager is Jonathan Greening, a European Champions League winner with Manchester United. He's been at the helm of the Seadogs ship since 2021, winning promotion from the Northern Premier League via the playoffs in his first season, ever since, Scarborough have been sitting middle or thereabouts in the National League North.

Not this season though, both teams today at the forefront very much with promotion on their mind, which whets the appetite as I get out my car in trying to avoid the wet, from persistent rain that has kicked in since this afternoon.

The Venue

It's an industrial estate around here, Shaftsbury Avenue is aligned with factories, backed by the busy Newcastle Metro line and Bede Station near Tyne Dock, amidst the bleak brick units you notice some rather colourful rounded floodlights, lit in claret and blue around their rim, they draw you in as you walk closer to the ground, eventually, reaching the large Main Stand that backs on to the road, newly built houses behind it, a sign saying 1st Cloud Arena in front of the blue roofed Wolf Competitions Stand. As I ask a steward "where do I go to get my press pass?"

"Straight through the Main Doors" I'm told, as I follow a Scarborough player who's parked near me on the main road, into the stadium, it's 6:30pm and as I get my ticket, a man tells me "the press box is full tonight, so you're in the Main Stand" which I find out, is a cracking view.

Inside the venue, the rain is falling underneath dark skies lit up by the clubs wonderful quirky floodlights, it has a bit of everything, more impressive than I had imagined, it's my first time here, but I like it, bigger than I thought, the seated stand that hogs this near touchline is excellent, elevated pews along the by-line, offices underneath, the boardroom, catering, club shop and bar, as I walk around the pitch to take a couple of photos, it has segregation in place for tonight as I chat to a steward who's been working here since the start of the season, Scarborough fans behind the goal to my left, low roofed, like the stand to my right, opposite has a marquee, the Durata Stand which has usual press seating is odd looking near half way, the players changing rooms in a flat roofed brick building to the right which has electronic scoreboard lit up on the wall.

The Game

I'm chatting to a young Geordie lad who works for Stats Perform who's sitting besides me, he's serious faced the sort who looks like he don't want a conversation, but is actually more than happy to oblige, as the two teams come out to play, Scarborough in changed yellow, South Shields in full Burnley FC claret and blue.

I'm expecting fireworks, the recent downpour has given the pitch nice zip, the battle at the top means it's a big game for both, but as we get underway, it's clear that Scarborough just don't want to be here.

I get it... Going to top of the league who are flying, on a cold, wet Tuesday night in October, you either take the bull by the horns, or you just runaway from the bull, and you hope it goes away. That's what Scarborough do, they run away, damage limitation, they play like they want to get this match over with, sitting off, letting South Shields dictate, it's all too easy, Paul Blackett, their free scoring striker has already had a couple of sniffs, he gets the bounce off a shot palmed by Whitely and puts the home side up within five minutes.

The hosts are confident, more direct than I thought they would be, they have so much of the ball it's like a training game, but every now and again they entice Scarborough in to the press, before isolating defenders with the pacey Blackett, before going long, or sliding him in, he's one of the top goalscorers in the division this year, as he was last year when he netted 22, and the season before when he topped the charts with 29, he's a classy player, electric pace and needs little opportunity to convert, although he seems to make his own opportunity just by being good at knowing where to be.

I'm telling the guy besides me that "it's all too easy" and that "this could be three or four tonight" but no sooner as I do, do Scarborough venture a rare forage into the box. Harry Green winds his foot back and as he aims to shoot through a crowd, his leg is taken from behind him, he scuffs the ball wide but the Referee signals penalty, it's soft, it probably is the right decision, and somehow Scarborough have a chance from nowhere, to level.

It is completely against the run of play, an injustice of sorts, but rules are rules, regardless of how finicky they are, and Walker steps up after a long delay, to reignite the championship race, but as he puts the ball down, runs up and kicks the ball, he does so without any conviction whatsoever, a pea rolling penalty easily grasped by keeper Jasper Sheikh, it's one of the worst penalties (on target) I have ever seen.

The Score

It's become so easy that Sheikh in goal is attempting to dribble around Scarborough players inside his own box, he gets tackled but the Seadogs can't make the most of it, another scare for a side who then at least decide to step it up a gear again.

Luke Woolston is a midfielder on loan from Middlesbrough, who has been brilliant. I remember watching him previously for Boro v Monchengladbach in the Premier League Cup, his ginger hair flowing noticeably as he comes short, collects possession, and whips the ball into forward positions. Woolston has got the motors running, his engine at full pelt as he races down to beat a defender to the ball on the left wing, whipping up another forward pass with a cross that is headed into the location of Cedwyn Scott, the former Notts County striker turns with time inside the box, to blast home a second and put the game beyond doubt, going into half time.

That goal is an inevitable sucker blow, as no-one really believes that Scarborough will come out of the blocks in the second half and have a good go at getting back into the match, and within five minutes of the restart, that theory is put to truth, as Blackett receives a nice pass to turn on the edge of the area, and without back lift, blast home a third to pretty much seal the deal.

"It's as good as I've ever seen us play" one fan near me says aloud as South Shields continue to dominate. By now, Robbie Tinkler and Dillon Morse at the back, have so much time on the ball, if they just sit on it and go to sleep, I think Scarborough's players will just stand and wait with them until the Ref puts them out of their misery, "let's get the bloody hell out of here" is all I think, they think.

On 65 Dan Ward who's been racing down the right all night gets a fourth, another slide rule pass forward, again too much time and space, Ward picks his spot inside the box and induces more misery on Jonathan Greening's miserable evening.

The last half hour with injury time is a procession which includes a few subs from all involved, South Shields get to rest up the likes of Woolston and Blackett ahead of Saturday, whilst Scarborough get a lively look at Zane Myers and Theo Chapman who unlike some previous, at least do run around a bit.

The Stars

At 27 years old and tied into a contract until 2027 (with a further year option) Paul Blackett might not be on the radar of any clubs, but he's certainly at this level indeed, a striker that makes a difference. He's dynamic, with good movement, he shoots at goal like good strikers do, does nothing out of the ordinary, but does the good and ugly stuff, all really well. Goalscoring centre forwards like this are few and far between, which is why South Shields have him long term, which is why South Shields are top of the league.

Luke Woolston at 20 years old is probably more your shop window material. On loan from Middlesbrough. Championship clubs don't really let their players drop down the levels so low, unless they don't think their outgoing loanees will make it, so it might be about putting himself in the shop window, I think National League, League Two, Woolston can certainly forge a career from that starting base.

Other good performances came from left back Ollie Bainbridge who's on loan from Sunderland, Robbie Tinkler cool with experience at the back alongside him, in midfield Will Jenkins ran his socks off, whilst Dan Ward down the right won sponsors man of the match.

For Scarborough, a night to forget. Whilst Lewis Maloney their defensive midfielder was one who kept going, his distribution best of a bad lot, not a lot happened from an attacking perspective. Luca Colville, Dom Tear and Stephen Walker all too quiet. At least late on some young energy posed effort, Zane Myers, Rio Allan, Theo Chapman, all perhaps suggesting, all is not yet lost.

The Verdict

South Shields will either win the league, or they will finish second behind AFC Fylde on 100 plus points. The National League North has become such an exciting title race in recent years, it is hard to predict who will make it over the line, but one thing you can predict, the Mariners will be up there, and they'll offer plenty more teams with similar beatings to what they gave Scarborough.

The Seadogs themselves might be in a slightly false position right now? Still third, still in the playoff hunt, they might even be better than what they suggested, in front of me, on the night, but luckily I'll get another chance to see them in a couple of weeks at Worksop, perhaps then, will be better time to judge?

The Teams

South Shields: Jasper Sheikh, Robbie Tinkler (Ethan Mann 80), Oliver Bainbridge, Cain Sykes, Dillon Morse, Paul Blackett (Sean McGurk 66), Will Jenkins, Dan Ward, Cedwyn Scott (Todd Alcock 63), Caden Kelly (Dan Savage 89), Luke Woolston (David Carson 67).

Scarborough Athletic: Ryan Whitely, Kieren Weledji, Lewis Maloney, Will Thornton, Alex Purver, Stephen Walker (Rio Allan 71), Harry Green (Michael Duckworth 80), Luca Colville (Bill Marshall 90), Dom Tear (Zane Myers 72), Alex Brown, Jack Waldron (Theo Chapman 81).

7:45pm Kick Off. Tuesday 21st October 2025, Mariners Park, Jarrow (att 1,946).