It was almost a richly deserved FA Cup victory in the North East for a vastly improved Workington Reds side.
But in the end all they got was sympathy from referee David Holmes and an apology from one of the South Shields goal-scorers Martin Smith.
The Premier Division side scored in the 89th and 92nd minutes to move through the first qualifying round tie 3-2.
Danny Grainger said afterwards: “I was proud of my lads and they didn’t deserve that to happen. I wouldn’t want to win that way.”
The controversial moment came in the 89th minute with Reds winning 2-1 and keeper Jim Atkinson banking the ball into touch as he went down in his box with a tight hamstring.
Expecting the ball to be thrown back to them Reds were wrongfooted and afterwards furious, when Shields worked the ball in-field from the throw and substitute Michael Woods scored with a low shot from inside the box into the bottom corner.
Even then, after remonstrating, they would have taken the draw and another chance at Borough Park on Tuesday but in the second minute of the four added on Woods popped up again in the box to slide home the winner in exactly the same place as his earlier effort.
It was a really disappointing end to a game in which Reds had played their best football of the season, and a welcome throwback to Grainger’s first stint in charge.
Reds stalwarts Conor Tinnion and Dan Wordsworth were outstanding and there wasn’t a weak area of the team as they were never behind until the 92nd minute.
They couldn’t have wished for a better start. On four minutes Dav Symington let one go with his left foot, cutting in from the right, and home keeper Myles Boney did really well to turn it over the bar.
But from the corner Wordsworth flicked on and Lewis Reilly rose well to head home from close range.
Although a lot of the game in the first half was played in the Workington half the Reds held their hosts comfortably and played some cultured, possession football.
Atkinson had to make one save of note from Will McGowan while Reilly was back to defend a corner and headed off the line.
But just when it looked Reds would go in with the lead they conceded the equaliser on 43 minutes. For the first time in the half they allowed a home player to beat the challenges on the edge of the area, skip past another tackle and apply a lovely finish into the bottom corner with Atkinson stranded.
Second-half, against the wind, Reds had more territorial advantage and almost regained the lead on 55 minutes. Young Keelan Leslie, overlapping on the left got into space but snatched at his shot and ballooned it over the bar from close in.
The Reds regained the lead on 74 minutes after a corner had been cleared. Wordsworth stayed forward and when Tinnion returned the ball to the box the centre-half produced a splendid headed finish.
Shields did apply pressure in the closing stages and twice Atkinson went full length to turn away a shot from Sam Hodgson and then a header from the same player.
Unfortunately it was when the Reds keeper collapsed in the box after booting the ball deliberately into touch to receive attention that Shields retained possession from the throw and went on to win the tie.
Referee Holmes told Reds secretary Alec Graham afterwards there was nothing in the rules to say Shields should have given the ball back to Reds but it certainly went against the spirit of the game.
Grainger said: “One of their players was telling his team-mate to throw it out for a goal-kick and afterwards the player apologised to me.”
Reds resume on Tuesday night in an NPL West game at Ramsbottom who got an 89th minute equaliser in their League draw at 1874 Northwich.
