Sunderland loanee Oli Bainbridge is enjoying a stellar campaign at South Shields and recently enjoyed ‘his best game’ yet - writes Ciaran Myers.
Academy of Light graduate Bainbridge joined the Mariners back in September and extended the terms of his loan deal in January to be a part of Ian Watson’s squad for the latter half of their title chase. The left-back scored his fifth goal of the season last weekend in Shields’ 4-1 win over Merthyr Town as he got on the end of Sonny Finch’s cross to head home.
After putting in an eye-catching performance against the Welsh club, Mariners assistant manager, Carl Magnay said: “I thought that was Oli's best game in a Shields shirt and I was really pleased for him to get a goal as well. We changed shape so (Dan) Dodds and Oli were our wing backs. I thought both of them were outstanding. Oli's got an unbelievable engine to get up and down and he got himself in a goal scoring position. It's not easy as a wing back sometimes to make up that ground and get in the box, he did it. He was also outstanding defensively.”
The change of shape referred to by Magnay gave Bainbridge more freedom to push up the field and utilise his athletic abilities and technique. This shift in the way Shields operated led to great success as their first two goals came from the left flank with Bainbridge involved in both.
After 17 minutes, he received a pass from Sean McGurk, who operated in a more central position than usual to give the Sunderland loanee more space. Bainbridge took a touch before delivering a low cross that was met by Paul Blackett. Eight minutes later, Bainbridge played a first-time pass into the path of McGurk; his cross was converted goalwards by Blackett to give the Mariners firm control of the game. After Finch added a third before the break, Bainbridge nodded home to give his performance the goal it deserved.
Athletic
Oli Bainbridge celebrates after scoring in South Shields 2-2 draw at Marine (photo Kevin Wilson)placeholder image
Oli Bainbridge celebrates after scoring in South Shields 2-2 draw at Marine (photo Kevin Wilson) | Kevin Wilson
This fine display only added to a number of high-quality games throughout the season, including in South Shields’ previous home game against Curzon Ashton. Bainbridge was creating once again as he supplied Dodds with a cross to tap home their third in a 3-0 win. Following that result against The Nash, manager, Ian Watson, said that Bainbridge was ‘really important’ to the way his team plays.
He added: “We want to play a certain way, and when you have players within that way who will give you different options to how you play. So, because he's so athletic and because he wants to run so much and run behind so much, you can actually start structuring attacking moments around him as well.”
With his Sunderland contract coming to an end this summer, there will be plenty of suitors lining up for his signature if the Premier League club decide to let him walk.
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