WITTON Albion have lost successive matches this week, although the anguish they feel after this one will be more acute.

They are out of the FA Cup after substitute Jamie Holmes scored twice in the second half to send their opponents through.

He showed composure in front of goal that the home team had lacked while on top earlier in the contest and their biggest regret will be failing to at least make the Mariners come from behind to win.

Instead South Shields can look forward to playing a second qualifying round tie for the first time in two decades.

The latest victory in a remarkable sequence, one that started in November last year, was hard-earned.

It seemed less so after Holmes had swept them in front on 79 minutes.

He was alert, while Witton’s defenders delayed their reaction, after full-back Matty Devine’s flawlessly-judged tackle on Gavin Cogdon – who was in shooting stride – inadvertently nudged the ball in his direction.

The wide man was cooler still in added time, and there was glee to his finish too, when converting fellow replacement Alex Nicholson’s perfectly-weighted pass at the end of a counter-attack.

That final flourish felt a world away from the laboured approach, in admittedly stifling conditions, that South Shields made to the first half.

Co-manager Graham Fenton warned they would be cautious, and he wasn’t bluffing.

Witton wasted a chance to take advantage when James Foley, sent clear by Will Jones, dragged an attempt wide of the far upright with only goalkeeper Liam Connell to beat.

The away team responded, but Liam Finnigan blazed high.

The striker then left Anthony Gardner in a crumpled heap with a badly-judged tackle that left the Albion defender needing crutches to stand up after the game.

His half did not improve, and he failed to connect cleanly with a lobbed attempt after former Premier League star Julio Arca caressed a gorgeous pass into his path.

The ex-Middlesbrough and Sunderland robbed Jones in shooting stride at the other end, while Witton’s front man was unlucky when guiding a shot narrowly wide after Foley and Devine had combined neatly on the left.

Carl Macauley had rearranged his side to accommodate Micah Evans, Garner’s replacement, and they enjoyed their best spell.

Prince Haywood might have capped it with a goal had Connell not reacted brilliantly to save to his left after the midfielder conjured an opening for himself.

When Paul Williams failed to control his volley early in the second half, again with a clear sight of goal from Jones’ looping assist, there was a sense Witton had to score the first goal.

Holmes was sent on, and Cogdon’s subsequent switch to the right made Devine think twice about raiding forward.

Shields sent shots at goal via Matty Pattison, Rob Briggs and Cogdon, but all were from outside of the penalty area.

Hare smothered the latter’s next attempt at his near post, but he could do nothing to prevent Holmes breaking the deadlock.

The teenager’s day got even better too shortly afterwards.

Witton | 3-5-2 | Hare (GK), Wilson, Brown, Ryan, Gardner (Evans 31), Foley, Williams (Newby 83), Haywood, Devine, Jones, Tames (Greenop 70) Subs not used Noone, Neild (GK)

South Shields | 4-3-3 | Connell (GK), Baxter, Morse, Shaw, Lough (Callaghan 80), Briggs,  Arca, Pattison (Nicholson 71), Sullivan (Holmes 51), Finnigan, Cogdon Subs not used Storey, Scott, Richardson, Norton (GK) Goals Holmes 79, 90 (+3) Booked Finnigan (foul)

Referee Michael Ainsworth

Attendance 534