Gold strikes to knock frustrated South Shields off the top

NATIONAL LGE NTH

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IAN Watson remained positive after South Shields slipped from the top of the National League North table with a draw at home to King's Lynn Town.

After being boosted by their win at title rivals AFC Fylde in midweek, the Mariners could not have wished for a better start to the contest as they marked their return to the Ist Cloud Arena by grabbing a goal inside the opening three minutes.

Their opener came from former Notts County and Carlisle United forward Cedwyn Scott as he made the most of a neat pass from Sean McGurk with a clinical finish.

However, the Linnets hit back to claim a point when the prolific Gold Omotoyo punished a wayward pass from McGurk just two minutes after the restart.

It meant AFC Fylde's narrow win at Alfreton Town installed them as the new leaders of the North Division as they sit two points clear of Ian Watson's side.

“We should win the game for sure, we have a lot of the ball," Watson told the club website.

“First-half was a bit of an open game, we get the early goal and we are trying to get a second goal - but it's a little bit more open because they need to score a goal as well to get back in the game.

“Second-half, the start of it, it went against us. It’s a moment; they get a goal from a moment, which is frustrating, but that's football and you have to try and react.

“They low-block, we try our best to try and break that down. There were moments where we put the ball in the box in really good areas but we don't quite get the timing right.