A bumper crowd turns out as South Shields fans sing a familiar Kevin Phillips chant once used at his former club Sunderland years back.
2,378 supporters packed out Mariners Park for their biggest attendance of the season, watching a 3-1 victory Witton Albion on Tuesday night.
Cedric Main broke the deadlock after 11 minutes, before the lead was doubled by Sam Hodgson on the 36th minute, before getting his second and making it 3-0 halfway into the second half.
At full time, Phillips thanked supporters for the turnout, and fans sang back the “Super, Super Kev” chant, catching the attention of Chronicle Live football reporter Mark Carruthers.
🎥 A chant that was once a regular feature at the Stadium of Light is heard at the 1st Cloud Arena following @SouthShieldsFC’s 3-1 win against Witton Albion as Kevin Phillips and his players and staff thank Mariners supporters for their backing pic.twitter.com/jicQuHv7ya
— Mark Carruthers (@MarkCarruthers_) January 25, 2022
Phillips said in his post-match interview: “of course, pleased with the victory, you know again it wasn’t a vintage performance, but it was one you have to give credit to Witton, they’ve come here, they’ve played and caused problems.
“I was disappointed a little bit with the first 20/25 minutes because I said to them that I wanted them to start the game really quick, and it took us a while to get going. You know maybe that’s a little bit of a hangover from you know the excursions and the work rate their put in at the weekend [beat Warrington 2-1], but as the game grew, I feel we grew into it and we started to play some really good stuff, the shape of the team looked better and we started to command the game, credit to the players because it’s been a tough 10 days for them to win back-to-back games and thats their fourth victory on the bounce so it’s credit to them.”
When questioned about the team’s fitness possibly coming into play, he replied: “Yeah i think you know as I say it was a tough game at the weekend, and I think them just coming off the back of the week that they had, you know their emotions etc etc with obviously myself coming in, they’re travelling at the weekends, and then you know to start the game tonight and everyone was talking about my first home game, there might be a bumper crowd etc you know the biggest crowd of the season so far etc, it took us a while to get going, but halfway through the first half we got that lactic acid out of our legs and they looked stronger as the game went on, which is a pleasing part.”
He was asked what he made of the support, saying in response: “Yeah great from my point of view, having been away for so long and hearing the crowd singing, you know they think I’m behind the team and we’re gunna need them for the game on Saturday because we’ve got a tough tough match, but yeah delighted all round. I think, yes we can get better, we know that, we have to get better on Saturday, but four games on the bounce, let’s go and try make it five.”
Reflecting on his first two games in charge and the bond: “It’s always nice, certainly when it’s your first managerial job, there’s always going to be doubters out there, you know people questioning I don’t know the league, as I said to you before, it’s still got two goals, we still play with a white ball, I played in non league so nothing’s really surprised me, it’s been enjoyable but it’s always nice to prove people wrong and shut people up, hopefully the attention goes away from me, now it goes onto the players, we can crack on now and look forward to the game on Saturday.”
While a bumper crowd turns out as South Shields fans sing a Kevin Phillips chant used at Sunderland, Twitter users reacted at full time of the Northern Premier League clash…
@ATM_SSFC: Well done lads now onto a massive game on Saturday Vs Matlock!
@AndyG1508: Good win thought Will McGowan was excellent
@sunlandfan1: Big kev doing what he knows bright future ahead of him of course well done South Shields my new second team
@KieranNUFC_: Top of the league soon UTM
@arranuk: Good result, they are way better than their league position would suggest.
@Radio_Ron: Better, much better. Let’s hope we can improve more for Saturday’s match
@stevenjconnor86: The #superkevolution Man superhero is picking up the pace nicely #ssfc
@Brian_MCMLIX: Great result. Ha’way you Mighty Mariners, onwards and upwards to the EFL
@JayAyton5: That attacking football tonight though 🤩🤩🤩
@SLorro_: 2 wins out of 2 for Kevin Phillips @SouthShieldsFC @Briggsy17 star man for me. All over the pitch and leading by example 👏
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