The final league game of the season ended in heartbreaking defeat on the road for ten-men North Shields.
After going into the break at 1-1, Nelson Ogbewe put the Robins in front with only 10 minutes to go, but two late goals by the hosts including a Sean Reid penalty in the 92nd minute sealed defeat for Brian Smith’s men.
The first half was competitive, albeit broken up by several injuries and somewhat frequent fouls on both sides. Mason was substituted off with only 9 minutes gone, followed by Luke Heppell for the hosts on 17 minutes. Callum Elliott also received treatment for several minutes after going down towards the end of the half.
Whilst the ball was in play, Shields almost scored in the 11th minute when Ogbewe pounced on sloppy play by the home side in their own half. A three-on two situation ensued, but unfortunately the forward played the wrong pass and the ball was cleared behind for a corner.
The deadlock was broken after 25 minutes after a Blair Adams free-kick unexpectedly found its way to the feet of Ryan Carr, who showed great composure to sort his feet out and slot the ball into the net from close range.
Seven minutes later, Dan Stephenson foreshadowed his eventual equaliser with an impressive 30-yard strike, which swerved inwards towards Elliott but then sharply back out and past the left post again.
Elliott then makes a brilliant save to deny Lanning as he barelled towards goal. It looked for a moment as if a Blue Star forward would score from a deflection, but it was quickly cleared away. The goalkeeper was injured in this moment and hobbled for the next few minutes, but was ultimately fine to continue the match.
In added time, the hosts got their equaliser, as Stephenson hit a first-time shot from distance into the bottom left corner, bringing the scores level to wrap up an even first half.
FIRST-HALF: Newcastle Blue Star 1-1 North Shields
Ogbewe opened the action in the second half, initially having a penalty appeal waved off in the opposition’s box, before heading the ball off the line down the other end in the immediate counter-attack.
After two further substitutes for the Robins, they were handed a huge blow when Forster was received a second yellow card for pulling down a player on the halfway line. In the immediate aftermath however, Shields were surprisingly rejuvenated, scoring just three minutes later through Ogbewe, reacting to a knocked back header to hit home with his left foot.
He was almost at it again five minutes later as he found himself through on goal before being wiped out from behind, however to the fury of the away bench, nothing was given as the contact was deemed to be too light.
Worse was to come as Daniel Lanning scored Blue Star’s second with a volley after Blair initially headed clear, before the hosts were awarded a late penalty in added time. Skipper Sean Reid stepped up to the spot and slotted the ball into the bottom left.
FULL-TIME: Newcastle Blue Star 3-2 North Shields
SHIELDS XI: Elliott, Doyle, Adams, Forster, Bexton, Harmison, Patterson (Holmes, 70′), Sampson, Hall (Waldon, 66′), Mason (Ogbewe, 9′), Carr
