Match report: South Shields 1-0 Buxton
South Shields progressed to the National League North play-off final after a 1-0 win over Buxton.
A first half penalty by Paul Blackett was enough to separate the sides.
South Shields made four changes from there defeat against Kidderminster with midfielder Will Jenkins missing out through injury.
The first chance of the game fell the way of South Shields in the 22nd minute, after some good link-up play between Sonny Finch and Paul Blackett saw the former deliver a ball to Sean McGurk who couldn’t convert from close range.
The Mariners kept the pressure on and five minutes before half time took the lead after Blackett converted a penalty won by McGurk following some good footwork in the box.
Moments later, they could have doubled that lead – Blackett found Finch putting him in on goal, but his effort dragged agonisingly wide.
After a mostly chanceless second half, Buxton had an opportunity to equalise in injury-time – a goalmouth scramble couldn’t be bundled home despite appeals from Buxton players and fans it had meaning South Shields progressed to the final.
