PENRITH TOWN 1-2 SOUTH SHIELDS By Patrick Hill

Published at 11:20, Monday, 07 April 2008

SOUTH SHIELDS celebrated like they’d won the league following their 2-1 win at the World Group Stadium - but Penrith Town boss Dave Heslop defiantly told them: “it isn’t over yet”.

The Blues, who are third, now trail South Shields by four points but they do have two games in hand on them and four games in hand on second place Ryton.

Former Workington Reds striker Barry Irving’s misfortune summed up a frustrating afternoon for the hosts.

He hit the crossbar from close range in the 44th minute and then his 73rd minute looping header looked to be going in before Matty Lea made sure on the line but was flagged offside.

To compound Lea’s misery, Shields forward Jonny Wightman hit a 30-yard wonder goal a minute later, adding to Mark Johnson’s 23rd minute headed opener.

Former Carlisle and Gretna star Derek Townsley then put Town back in it a minute later, heading home off the underside of the crossbar from six yards.

But it wasn’t to be for the hosts, who were guilty of squandering several chances over the course of the afternoon.

Heslop said: “South Shields think they’ve won the league but it isn’t over yet, there’s still a long way to go.

“Everyone’s gutted, it’s been very disappointing.

“On the day we’ve not been good enough but it’s still in our own hands and we’ll stick together.

“We’ve had enough chances and on another day we might have scored three or four.

“I’ve got to praise the the players because they couldn’t have tried any harder.

“We’ve had no good fortune today but it’s all about how we respond now and how we bounce back.”

STAR MAN: Wayne Robertson. The towering defender was a calming and assured influence at the heart of the Blues defence.

NEXT MATCH: Sunderland RCA, Ernest Armstrong Memorial Cup quarter-final, World Group Stadium, 7.30pm.

Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk