Spennymoor beaten 1–0 by South Shields and stay bottom

Wednesday 28 October 2026 · By Patrick Wolstenholme

Spennymoor Town lost 1–0 at home to South Shields on Tuesday night, a third league defeat in a row that leaves them bottom of the Enterprise National League North.

Paul Blackett, who is a former Spennymoor player, scored the only goal for South Shields in the first half. The Shields Gazette timed it at the 23rd minute, although other listings have it a minute earlier. The goal came just after Spennymoor goalkeeper Matt Urwin had denied Cedwyn Scott twice in quick succession.

Peter Hartley’s side held out in the second half. South Shields substitute Caden Kelly missed from six yards and then hit the crossbar late on, so the game stayed at 1–0. The reported attendance was 1,458.

Mike Williamson, the South Shields head coach, told the Gazette that Spennymoor made a lot of changes, which meant a lot of unknown players. “They had energy,” he said. “They were on the front foot. It wasn’t easy.” He added that their league position was “completely irrelevant” to him, because he knew how tough the game would be.

Hartley made three signings on Saturday before the Durham derby at Darlington, which Spennymoor lost 3–0. The club announced centre-back Justin Eguaibor, left-back Logan Pye and winger Ihsan Rehman on matchday.

The defeat leaves Spennymoor on seven points from 13 games, with one win, four draws and eight defeats. They have scored 12 goals and conceded 27, which is the most in the division. They are eight points from 20th-placed Merthyr Town, who have 15. Only the champions are promoted automatically, with second to seventh going into the play-offs, and the bottom four are relegated.

Hartley was appointed on 29 September. Spennymoor have won only one league game all season, and their last six games brought two draws and four defeats.

The next game is at home to Chorley on Saturday 31 October, with kick-off at 15:00 GMT. Chorley won 3–0 at Radcliffe on Tuesday and are 11th, two points off the play-off places.

Spennymoor then travel to King’s Lynn Town on Saturday 7 November at 15:00 GMT. Lynn lost 5–0 at Worksop Town on Tuesday and their manager Paul Caddis called it embarrassing.

The FA Trophy second round brings Scarborough Athletic to the Brewery Field on Saturday 14 November, with kick-off at 3pm, and the club has said that Scarborough beat Spennymoor 3–0 earlier this season. Ticket details are still to come. Scarborough are 19th on 15 points.

On Tuesday 17 November, Chester visit in a rearranged league game, with kick-off at 19:45 GMT. Chester are fifth on 23 points after beating Marine 2–1 on Tuesday.

Spennymoor have a game in hand on several of the clubs above them, having played 13 league games, and the fixtures to come give them chances to close the gap. The home game against Chorley on Saturday is the next test.

Hartley has been rebuilding his squad, and his players will want to show against Chorley that the energy Williamson described can turn into points.