Main off the mark as FC United claim point at South Shields

FC United claimed a well-deserved point at title favourites South Shields on Tuesday night as striker Cedric Main got the equaliser in a 1-1 draw in front of 2,362 supporters at Mariners Park. 

Conor Tee gave the hosts the lead on 15 minutes, but Neil Reynolds' side fought back and Main's first goal of the season was enough to claim a priceless point on the road. 

It was the home side that started strongly, Alex Kempster just failing to meet a cross from the right. It seemed only a matter of time that Shields would take the lead and on the quarter hour it happened. The ball was crossed in from the left and Tee tapped in unmarked at the far post.

On 24 minutes, the lead should have been doubled when a corner was headed back into the six yard box, Jack Bodenham blasted a volley high over the bar. For some reason, The Mariners seemed to decide they were happy with this and invited FC United on, Halifax Town loanee Jamie Cooke forcing a save from Myles Boney. Dan Lavercombe was also in action on 36 minutes, tipping a shot from Robert Briggs wide.

The second half was a totally different story, with the Reds (playing in yellow) playing almost exclusively in the home half and Shields relying on counter attacks, which were quite rare. Finlay Sinclair-Smith curled a shot over and on the hour Boney pulled off a world class save to deny a Johnathan Smith header, Cooke putting the rebound wide.

The game continued in a similar vein, FC doing the majority of attacking, but the home defence holding firm, that was until the 78th minute. A mix-up in the defence presented the ball to Main who still had much to do. He stayed calm, rounded Boney and rolled the ball into the net to open his FC United account.

The Mariners did have a couple of chances, but they were long shots from Blair Rossiter and Kempster, both straight at Lavercombe.

At the other end, Boney again kept his side in the game with a superb save from Jordan Simpson. On 90 minutes, it looked like Aaron Morris had won the three points, but Boney again produced a miracle in the home goal to deny him. That wasn’t the end of the action though, one last home attack saw ex-FC United player Nathan Lowe drive a shot just wide. He should have scored, but it would have been cruel to FC.

The game brought to an end a tough opening four games for FC United. Barring the defeat at Warrington, the Reds have come through with flying colours and set the season up very nicely indeed.

Website man of the match: Adam Dodd. Mostly an attacking force in the game, his overlapping was a joy to behold and many a superb cross deserved a goal.

Report by Steven Wood