WITTON Albion silenced Mariners Park with a stunning late 2-1 win at league leaders South Shields.

More than 1,800 locals held heads in their hands in unison when Kyle Sambor smashed home the decider in the third minute of added time.

And that came three minutes after MJ Monaghan hit home an equaliser.

In securing the victory, Albion became the first side this season to complete a double over the full-time table toppers and were rewarded with a climb of three places to seventh on the BetVictor Northern Premier League ladder.

It was nothing more than Carl Macauley's men deserved.

From around the 55th minute mark they limited South Shields' chances while looking more and more the likely side to trouble the scoreboard operator.

Josh Wardle headed one effort over the bar and soon after Witton had the ball in the net but the referee blew for a foul in the process of scoring.

Home goalkeeper Myles Boney pulled off a superb save to prevent a leveller from James Foley in the 83rd minute.

And then came all the drama as two substitutions by Macauley paid dividend.

Monaghan volleyed into the corner after meeting a cross delivered from the left to set up a thrilling four minutes of added time.

And it was then from a corner that the ball was nodded down and Sambor was quick to pounce on the loose ball and rifle into the net.

Earlier, the Mariners struck a psychological blow on the stroke of half time when Sefton Gonzales turned on a sixpence before lashing the ball home off the inside of the crossbar.

But with the confidence gained from the 2-1 home win against Atherton Collieries last week they held their nerve and delivered at the death.

Albion will aim to do it all over again on Monday when they travel to second-placed Basford United.