PREVIEW: South Shields vs Chorley
The Magpies travel to Tyneside this Saturday...
CHORLEY face their first away test of the 2026/27 season this weekend with a trip to last year’s runners-up South Shields.
The Magpies fell to a late 1-2 defeat at home to Chester on the opening day of the season and will have another difficult task in the North East.
Saturday’s hosts finished five points behind champions AFC Fylde last year before losing out to Kidderminster Harriers in the play-off final at home.
Last Time Out
Last weekend’s defeat to Chester at the Grant Store Victory Park Stadium was a frustrating start to the season for Andy Preece’s side.
In a highly-anticipated season-opener, Billy Waters’ 87th-minute winner meant the Seals took all three points back home.
The Magpies had an early chance to go in front just minutes into the game when they were awarded a penalty after Declan Weeks brought down Warren Clarke inside the box.
However, Accrington Stanley loanee Anjola Popoola, making his second debut for the club, fired wide from the spot.
And the visitors made the most of it as Ma’kel Campbell gave them the lead after 26 minutes, firing high into the roof of Li-Bau Stowell’s net.
It was nearly two when Waters set up Tom Peers on the edge of the box but the on-rushing Stowell narrowed his angle and forced him to fire high and wide.
Chorley battled well and almost drew level through Popoola but he was unable to find goal with a header from Jack Hazlehurst’s cross.
Phil Parkinson’s side started the second half the better and almost doubled their lead through Dan Ward.
However, on the hour mark the Magpies equalised in incredible fashion through Elliot Taylor, another debutant in the home side.
After a lofted ball from Callum Rowe, the striker fought off Sam Reed before unleashing an unbelievable outside-of-the-foot half-volley over goalkeeper Luke Hewitson and into the far corner from just inside the penalty area.
It was not to be though for Chorley as, with just three minutes left on the clock, Ward burst away inside the box and found the unmarked Waters just yards from the goal line who tapped home to secure all three points.
It capped off a performance that the Magpies knew was not their best but also held some encouraging signs at the start of a long season.
Opposition Focus
South Shields will be the favourites for Saturday’s game after their excellent 2025/26 season which saw them come within five points of a first-ever promotion to Step One.
The Mariners won 28 of their 46 games in the Enterprise National League North and finished on 95 points, while star man Paul Blackett ended the year as the league’s top-scorer, notching 29 goals.
Strike partner Cedwyn Scott also scored 17 goals as part of a clinical forward duo.
The summer has seen change in the dugout with Ian Watson leaving to join National League play-off final winners Rochdale ahead of their EFL return, meaning that his former coach and the club’s Director of Performance and Culture Mike Williamson has taken over.
The 42-year-old former Newcastle United defender had an impressive four-year spell in charge of Gateshead, in which he won promotion to Step One and reached the FA Trophy final, before spells at MK Dons and Carlisle United.
He then joined Russell Martin’s coaching staff at Rangers last summer but was sacked just three months later and made the move to South Shields in January of this year.
Williamson has lost midfield duo Will Jenkins, who followed Watson to Rochdale, and Dan Ward, who joined promotion rivals Chester.
Having said that, he has brought in former Leicester City man Khanya Leshabela from AFC Telford United as well as forward pair Adam Campbell and Sam Ashford, who have arrived from Hartlepool United and Woking respectively.
They began their season with a 1-0 win over Scarborough Athletic, with Sonny Finch’s early goal enough for three points on the road.
Head-to-Head
The Magpies and the Mariners met three times in all competitions last season, twice in the league and once in the FA Cup.
The first two outings came in back-to-back weeks at the 1st Cloud Arena with the hosts coming out on top on both occasions.
A 4-1 defeat in the cup knocked the Magpies out in the third qualifying round, with loanee Harry Ibbitson getting the only goal for Andy Preece’s side, before a 2-0 loss the following week completed a tough fortnight.
In the reverse league fixture, two quick goals from Finch and Jack Sampson cancelled each other out in the first 15 minutes as the sides drew 1-1 in a game which also saw Mike Calveley receive a late red card.
Match Details
South Shields v Chorley
Enterprise National League North
Saturday, August 15
3pm kick-off
Wolf Competitions Stadium, South Shields, NE32 3UP
