Dominant Robins stroll to seven goal blow-out

Callum Smith fired home a 12 minute hat-trick to secure a comfortable 7-0 win at home for North Shields against a newly promoted Redcar Athletic.

Dan Wilson opened the scoring a mere three minutes into the game, running beyond his man and placing his shot low past the Redcar goalkeeper James Dawson.

The Robins continued to show dominance for the next few minutes, coming close again in the eighth minute. Wilson laying a ball into Jack Leonard who couldn’t make much of the chance.

One minute later and another Shields attack this time proved fruitful. As Wilson once more played a great ball into the right hand channel for full-back Andy Cartwright who slotted it past the keeper at his far post to make it 2-0 after only 9 minutes.

The 10th minute brought the first glimpse of a Redcar motion into the Shields half, with Aaron Martins making a run down the right hand side but Robins new boy Lewis Brannen made his first contribution in a red shirt and smothered the chance well.

18 minutes into the game and another marauding run from Cartwright down the right was flashed into the box, Wilson helped it on and Leonard made it 3-0 with an easy finish from no more than 5 yards out.

Shields dominance started to show in frustration for the Redcar backline, who resorted to firing long balls over the defence. Brannen and Myers however looked imperious in the air and chances remained few and far between for the visitors.

The 23rd minute bore the first real chance for Redcar, an excellently weighted lofted through ball from Aaron Martins into Isaac Walker down the left hand channel. Greg Purvis rushed from his line, Walker took a left footed shot but failed to hit the target.

The remainder of the first half stayed quiet, with chances from the edge of the box from David Robinson going wide and protests from Wilson just before half time for a handball in the Redcar box went unentertained from the referee.

HT: NS 3 – 0 RA

Shields and Redcar lineup both remained unchanged after the break.

The Robins once again came flying out of the blocks, as no more than one minute after kick-off Cam Cunningham skipped his man and hung a ball to the back post and Callum Smith arrived and finished excellently first time to make it 4-0

The 55th minute saw Smith grab a second, Dan Wilson involved again flicked the ball on for the onrunning Smith, who finished the chance comfortably.

Goal number five proved to be Wilson’s final contribution as he was replaced by Konner Lamb after 10 minutes of second half play.

Callum Smith completed his hat-trick only three minutes later. An energetic run down the right hand channel was found and brimming with confidence found the net. Once more leaving the Redcar Keeper to pick the ball out of the net infront of a joyous home crowd. 6-0.

In the 61st minute Shields made their second change, Jack Leonard making way for Ryan Carr. The accompanying change from Redcar was Stuart Browne and Lee Farrington to be replaced by Owen Clarkson and Matthew Wilson respectively.

The 63rd minute meant another change for North Shields , as Adam Forster was replaced by Liam Brooks – who immediately got a good chance after good work down the right by Ryan Carr who found Brooks twelve yards out. Brooks was unable to convert however and the half volley was struck over.

Robins sub Konner Lamb started show some real control in the 68th minute, as the forward danced around defenders, making a yard for a shot but the keeper being equal to it.

A minute later and Lamb was sniffing around the Redcar goal yet again, this time being sent in behind the defence and attempted to chip the onrushing keeper. The shot was just lacking the power however and Dawson gathered.

Five more minutes was all it took for Lamb to finally get his goal. In the 73rd minute, Lamb once again found himself surrounded by defenders just inside the box. The new recruit excellently dribbled himself some space and hit it. The shot took a deflection and looped over a too-often helpless Dawson.

The final chance of the game fell to Liam Brooks, after a good run down the right channel was hit early, but the shot whistled just over the bar.

Full Time: North Shields F.C. 7 – 0 Redcar Athletic

Attendance: 345

Officials: Steven Lawson – Matthew Morton – Stephen Birkett

North Shields Starting XI: Greg Purvis, Andy Cartwright, Chris McDonald, Adam Forster (c), Anth Myers, Lewis Brannen, Cam Cunningham, David Robinson, Dan Wilson, Callum Smith, Jack Leonard (Konner Lamb, Liam Brooks, Ryan Carr)

Unused Subs: Nick Cassidy, Paul Van-Zandvliet

Redcar Athletic Starting XI: James Dawson, Stephen Jackson, Lee Farrington, Michael Woodhouse (c), Jonathan Krakue, Stuart Browne, Matthew Bell, Thomas Eglinton, Nicholas Martin, Jordan Rivis, Isaac Walker (Owen Clarkson, Matthew Wilson)

Unused Subs: Thomas Bligh, Kieran McWaters