October 31, 2026
Today’s Saturday afternoon entertainment was a meeting between 1st and 3rd in the National League North.
Oxford City Update
Since these diaries covered The Hoops last gasp 1-1 home draw with Morecambe, they had played 5 more games and had extended their unbeaten run to 8 games in all competitions.
In the FA Cup a 6-1 win over step 3 Enfield Town, at the time top of the Isthmian League Premier, was followed by a gritty 1-0 victory at National League South Torquay United to reach the First Round Proper. Their reward was a home tie against Leicester City, Premier League winners in 2015/16 and FA Cup winners in 2020/21, with the tie selected for live coverage by TNT Sport and moved to the Friday evening slot. A 3,100 capacity crowd was expected.
In the league, Oxford City had travelled to Newcastle to beat Hebburn Town 3-0, drawn 1-1 at Marine, and in mid-week, won 3-0 at home to Merthyr Tydfil, which took them to the top of the table.
Oxford City also hit the headlines with the signing of former Watford, Sheffield Wednesday and Italy international Fernando Forestieri ( 6 caps ), who had last been playing in Cyprus for AEL Limassol. Whilst many observers suggested that Forestieri was still capable of playing in League 1 or 2, apparently, he signed for Oxford City as he had played with Hoops manager Ross Jenkins when they were both at Watford.
The other transfer news for the Hoops was the return of striker Isaac Westendorf on loan from Torquay, after having left to join The Gulls in the summer.
Previous Meetings
These two sided had met on 4 occasions and the Mariners had won three times.
Fatbear reported on the first meeting of these two sides in August 2024 when South Shields left Court Place Farm with a 4-1 victory. The return match in January 2025 was postponed less one hour before the kick-off due to a frozen pitch, resulting in a fruitless 10-hour return trip for The Hoops, but they achieved a consolation of sorts in the rescheduled match on a Tuesday night in March when a 97th minute penalty gave them a 2-1 win.
Last season Oxford City again had a Saturday fixture at South Shields postponed, this time due to South Shields’ involvement in the FA Cup, and lost 1-4 on their Tuesday night trip up North. South Shields also won the return, 3-1 in January.
South Shields This Season
Last season South Shields finished in 2nd place in the regular league table but succumbed to Kidderminster Harriers 0-2 at home in the play-off final, in front of a crowd of 3,628.
Expectations were high that they could go one better this season and arrived today with an 8-2-3 record. They began the season with an unbeaten run of 7 games until unexpectedly being hammered 0-6 at Hereford United.
The Mariners responded to that set-back with a 7-0 thumping of Witton Albion in the FA Cup, then a 4-0 home win against Buxton. However, they then suffered another defeat on the road, going down 2-3 at lowly Brackley Town.
Buxton were again beaten, this time 2-0 away, before consecutive defeats, losing 2-3 at National League Halifax Town in the FA Cup, then 3-4 at Macclesfield in the league.
Since then, the Mariners had beaten Chester 3-1 at home, and last Tuesday night they won 1-0 at Spennymoor.
South Shields were currently the 6th best supported team in the division, with an average home attendance of 1,756, which compared to an average of 939 for Oxford City.
South Shields Squad
The undoubted player to watch in the South Shields squad was striker Paul Blackett, who netted 23 times in the 2024/25 season, and was the division’s leading scorer last season with 29 goals. Blackett was predictably the Mariners’ leading scorer so far this season with 6 goals. Incidentally, Blackett was the only player who played for South Shields in the first meeting in 2024, and scored twice, who was still with the club.
Keeper Jasper Sheik made one appearance for Crawley Town in November 2024, coming on as a substitute for the injured Jojo Wollacott in the second half of an FA Cup tie at Maidenhead United, which Crawley went on to win 2-1 in extra-time, with Fatbear watching on.
Other ex-Crawley players on the books of The Mariners were midfielder Jack Roles, winger Adam Campbell, who started in the successful 2023/24 promotion play-off final against Crewe at Wembley, and forward Sam Ashford.
Forward Cedwyn Scott numbered Dundee, Carlisle United, Gateshead and Notts County amongst his former clubs, and South African midfielder Khanya Leshabela had previously played for Leicester City, Shrewsbury, Crewe Alexandra, Bedford Town and AFC Telford.
Captain and centre-back Robbie Tinkler was ex-York City, Gateshead and Aldershot, left-back Joe Emery was on loan from Sheffield Wednesday, and midfielder Toby Onanaye joined the Mariners after being released by Leicester City.
Defender Ethan Mann had previously played for Buxton, left sided midfielder Daniel Dodds was ex-Darlington and Hartlepool, whilst defender Cain Sykes had been a youth player at Middlesborough.
Matchday Information
South Shields’s journey to Oxford was just over 265 miles via the A1(M), M1 and M40, which would normally take close to nearly five hours, so they faced a round trip of potentially ten hours ! It looked like around 40 supporters had made the long journey to support The Mariners.
The weather at the 15.00 kick-off time was a nice sunny autumnal day with the temperature around 13 degrees.
The match was not segregated and the matchday programme was £3.50, and free team sheets were available. A cup of tea was £2.50.
Oxford City made one change from their midweek line-up with Dejan Tetek replacing Alfie Potter in midfield, whilst South Shields were unchanged.
South Shields took to the field in their usual kit of claret shirts with light blue trimmings, and white shorts and socks. Oxford City were in their usual blue and white hoops.
Match Report
The early stages of the game saw a pattern of South Shields passing the ball nicely without much penetration whilst Oxford City were looking to strike quickly on the break.
The first half-chance came in the 3rd minute for Oxford City, when Ellis Brown ran onto a long ball down the left-hand channel but his cross was tamely headed wide by Scott Pollock.
Hoops captain Josh Ashby then found space in the left-hand channel but his low ball towards the far post was cleared before Bria Bateman could finish. Oxford City regained possession and Ashby forced the first corner of the match.
Ludwig Francillette was able to get his head to the corner, but it took a deflection to go over the bar for another corner, to which South Shields keeper Sheik could only flap at and push high into the air, but from close range Ashby headed narrowly over the bar.
With 10 minutes on the clock, Pollock was bundled over just outside The Mariners’ area, and the ex-Brackley man got up to take the free-kick, sending a curling left-footed chip to beyond the far post, and although Canice Carroll managed to head back across goal, the linesman’s flag was raised to indicate the ball had gone out of play.
Pollock then made a strong run down the left-wing, leaving Sykes trailing in his wake, but his low ball across the six-yard line just eluded the sliding Bateman at the far post.
Against the run of play the visitors took the lead. Carroll failed to deal with a ball lobbed into the Oxford City area and Campbell was able to fire across the goalmouth. Although Diego Nelson was able to partially clear from close to his goal-line, to ball fell kindly to Onanaye, who rifled the ball home from 12 yards. 0-1 after 15 minutes.
The Hoops response was for Brown to keep the ball in play on the South Shields left-hand byline but his low cross was blocked at the near post, and Tyrone Marsh was unable to get a shot away.
Oxford City continued to press but with several options ahead of him, Bateman inexplicably opted to play the ball back to Carroll close to the half-way line, but the pass was intercepted and the Mariners quickly broke and played the ball forward to Blackett. Although there was a suspicion of offside, the linesman’s flag stayed down by his side and the lethal marksman proceeded to round keeper Maxted and deposited the ball into the empty net. 0-2 with 19 minutes played.
Despite the arrears, Pollock was looking dangerous for the home side and surged from half-way towards the edge of the Shields area and was sent tumbling after a challenge by Leshabela, but the referee waved play on.
Marsh then played a delicate chip into the South Shields area which was partially cleared, but only as far as Nelson, whose long range drive was blocked.
The first yellow card arrived in the 22nd minute after Leshabela pulled back Pollock when he had run past the Shields’ midfielder just inside the South Shields half.
Shortly after, Nelson got past Scott and made his way into the South Shields area, but the shot from a narrow angle went into the side netting.
However, the visitors were looking dangerous when they attacked, and Onanaye was put clear to the byline and his pull-back found Dodds, who was crowded out, and when the ball found its way to Blackett the shot was blocked by a home defender.
In the 29th minute, Dodds crossed from the left wing and with the home defence appealing in vain for off-side, Blackett produced a deft flick which only just drifted over the bar with Maxted beaten. So close to being 3-0 !
Shortly after, Francillette clipped the ball forward for Marsh to chase and Emery was forced to concede a corner. Pollock’s delivery went beyond the far post where Carroll’s header hit the post, and the loose ball was scooped into the roof of the net from close range. Ashby was announced as the scorer, and it was now 1-2 after 32 minutes.
The home side surged forward in search of an equaliser and Pollock and Nelson combined to put Bateman clear inside the South Shields area but the shot was weak and a comfortable save for Sheik.
There didn’t seem to be any danger as The Mariners played the ball around at the back, but Mann then played a superb defence splitting pass between Carroll and Evan Humphries, releasing Onanaye for a clear run on goal, and the ex-Leicester City youngster shot across goal and into the far post to extend the visitors’ lead. It was now 1-3 with 37 minutes on the clock.
The second yellow card came two minutes later when a long ball put Blackett clear but the Mariners’ striker was clearly offside and the whistle blew, but several seconds later the forward took a long range shot at goal. Frankly, it was a ridiculous card to give away.
At the other end, The Hoops won a corner, but after it was headed away, Brown made a poor decision to go for goal from 20+ yards from wide on the left, with his centre-backs lurking at the far post in anticipation of the cross, but the effort sailed yards high and wide. It was a terrible effort.
A minute later Brown did much better with a decent pass to send Bateman into the visitors’ penalty area, but the Birmingham City loanee was forced wide and the shot from a tight angle went narrowly over the bar.
Pollock then produced a clever flick close to the half-way line to find Dejan Tetek, who charged forward to the edge of the South Shields area, but after passing to Bateman, his shot was blocked for a throw-in.
Two minutes before the interval, two Shields defenders attempted to shepherd the ball out for a goal-kick, but City stole possession, resulting in Emery chopping down Pollock close to the corner flag. Pollock’s free-kick was headed off for a corner, and the second attempt was unconvincingly punched away under pressure by keeper Sheik.
The half-time whistle sounded shortly after with the visitors holding a 3-1 lead thanks to their clinical finishing, making the most of the home side’s defensive blunders. The Hoops had created most of the chances so it felt like there were more goals to come in the game.
The visitors made an intriguing substitution for the start of the second half, with goal-machine Blackett being replaced by Lucas de Bolle, who had recently returned to the club after a spell at Portuguese side Portimonense.
The start of the second period saw a snap-shot from Scott go just wide after Oxford City had coughed up possession just outside their penalty area. After this though, the home side took a grip on the game. Marsh went scampering after a long ball and tumbled inside the area after a challenge by Mann but a goal-kick was the decision. Brown then skipped past Onanaye on the left, but the low cross was blocked at the near post. This was followed by some good build-up play being wasted by Brown opted to shoot from 25 yards, but the tame effort barely troubled Sheik.
After 54 minutes Bateman won a corner, which was sent to the far post but Francillette’s header was denied by a fantastic save by Sheik, diving to his left to tip over the bar.
Four minutes later Brown skinned Campbell to get into the Shields area, but his left footed shot was met with a good save by Sheik, pushing the ball over the bar.
A fracas occurred in the 6-yard box before the corner was taken, which resulted in Sheik and Francillette both being shown yellow cards. When the corner was finally taken Sheik made a good punch to prevent Francillette being able to get to a header.
Brown continued to impress with his running, and another low ball across the 6-yard line went begging with no Hoop on hand for a far post tap in. Carroll then sent a delightful cross-field pass to substitute Max Smith, but his low ball towards the near post was well defended.
Pollock then spun away from Onanaye just outside the left-hand side of the South Shields area and was brought down, but the free-kick came to nothing. A minute later Pollock popped up in the right-hand channel and spun past Leshabela ,who brought him down. This time the referee produced the yellow card, and as it was his second the South African had to leave the field. This was a shame as his energetic display had probably made him The Mariners’ best player up to this point.
Pollock’s free-kick was smashed into the defensive wall, and when the ball was played back into the mixer, Marsh was brought down by Sheik as he went for the ball. Unfortunately for the home supporters, the linesman’s flag was raised for offside and the free-kick went to The Mariners.
After this, despite the one-man advantage Oxford City rarely looked like troubling the South Shields resolute defence. For a moment it looked like substitute Rio Clegg would break clear for the visitors, but the referee judged he had fouled Carroll.
Smith was seeing a lot of the ball on the right-wing for Oxford City, but his crosses rarely beat the first defender, although one cross needed to be cleared by Tinkler to prevent Zac McEahran having a tap-in.
Humphries was found in space on the left and his ball into the 6-yard box saw McEachran attempt a back-heel, but unfortunately for the home side, his effort was straight at Sheik, who made a low save. With 10 minutes remaining Humphries tried his luck for 20 yards, but his left-footed strike sailed fractionally over the bar, although Sheik probably had it covered.
Ashby’s cross then found the unmarked Pollock, but the header from 12 yards lacked power and Sheik made a routine save.
Substitute Foresteri ran into the visitors’ penalty area and hit the deck, but again goal-kick was the correct decision.
The home side nearly pulled a goal back when Sheik could only get a hand to a cross from Smith, and when McEachran lobbed the ball back into the mixer, Foresteri could only head at close range straight at the keeper.
As the game moved into added time, the game’s moment of mild controversy occurred. Hoops substitute Westendorf stood on the goal-line and was pushed by Sheik. Some collective handbags ensued and the referee eventually restored order without issuing any sanction. With the corner finally ready to be taken, Roles clearly tugged Westendorf’s shirt and the forward, Roles and Sheik hit the deck. The referee showed a yellow card to Roles and surprisingly to Westendorf, and also surprisingly not to Sheik. He also failed to award the penalty for the foul play…………
In any case, it was all academic as the final whistle was blown shortly afterwards, and The Mariners deservedly left Court Place Farm with the three points and leapt above Oxford City to top the table. On this display they look a good bet to win the league.
The Hoops would need to cut out the errors if they were to have any chance on Friday against Leicester City !
Highlights : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoeKjKwMMFI
Oxford City : Maxted – Nelson, Francillette, Carroll ( Westendorf ), Humphries – Bateman ( Smith ), Ashby, Tetek ( Foresteri ), Brown ( McEachran ) – Pollock, Marsh
South Shields : Sheik – Sykes, Tinkler ( Marshall ), Mann, Emery – Campbell ( Ashford ), Onanaye ( Roles ), Leshabela, Scott ( Clegg ) – Blackett ( de Bolle ), Dodds
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