ALDER House has seen some decent players over the years but it is doubtful many of them could match the calibre of visiting skipper Julio Arca as South Shields defeated Atherton Colls 2-0.

For Colls captain Brad Cooke, a Sunderland fan, going head-to-head with the 37-year-old Argentinean midfielder, boasting over 300 league appearances with Middlesbrough and Sunderland and loving life in non-league, it would have been a special moment.

Arca was in a visiting side that dominated the encounter and it wasn’t until the 88th minute that Colls, tightly pressed in midfield throughout, managed to get a serious glimpse of goal.

Then, Ben Hardcastle, who recently added 12 months to his contract with the club, flashed a shot narrowly above the target after a driving run forward.

The victory for South Shields – scorers of 19 goals in their previous four league and cup outings – puts them three points clear of Hyde United at the top of the Evo-Stik League Division One North, with a couple of games in hand to boot, as they look to quickly progress up the footballing pyramid.

On this showing, their credentials aren’t to be questioned after a dominating and efficient performance, going in front on 13 minutes when Dillon Morse’s long ball over the top released Lee Mason, who slotted past Greg Hartley from an acute angle from the right-hand side of the penalty area.

That lead was almost doubled only a couple of minutes later, Michael Richardson showing some twinkling feet to dance his way past a couple of challenges and poke the ball past Hartley, only for Colls right back Jake Kenny to appear in the right place at the right time to hack the ball off the line.

Having seen his pre-match plans disrupted by the late withdrawal of Jordan Cover, Collieries boss Micheal Clegg had another problem to contend with on 23 minutes when Chris Lynch was forced to withdraw from the action, replaced by Matt Grimshaw at the heart of the black and white defence.

Harley did well to save Craig Baxter’s driven effort from 25 yards out on 33 minutes before Colls asked credible questions for a penalty when Gareth Peet was bundled over by Morse, only for the appeals to fall on deaf ears.

Aksel Juul came off the bench for the visitors at half-time and within five minutes of his introduction he had doubled his side’s lead, finishing from Richardson’s cut-back after Hartley had initially clawed a looping effort away from his right hand corner.

The game petered out to only a second defeat for Colls in 17 outings.

Colls break new ground as they head to Hednesford Town in the semi finals of the Integro League Cup on Thursday, kick off 7.45pm.

On Saturday it’s a return to league action with a visit to Ossett Town, 3pm.

League big boys Hyde United travel to Atherton on Monday, 7.45pm.