Guisborough Town 1 North Shields 0: Late Roberts goal ends Robins FA Cup dreams

A late Steven Roberts header denied the Robins a chance to extend their FA Cup campaign, seeing them to a 1-0 loss at the hands of Guisborough Town.

Robins keeper Greg Purvis was called on early in the first half to deny Guisborough striker Sonni Coleman from the penalty spot, before smartly blocking the rebounded effort.

The visitors almost took the lead shortly before the break but Rhys Williams’ header and Ryan Carr’s shot on the rebound were both cleared off the line.

Guisborough thought they had the lead midway through the second half, only for the linesman to rule Daniel Earl’s effort to be from an offside position.

But with the game heading for a tie, Roberts rose highest at the far post to nod the ball into the back of the net, sealing Guisborough’s place in the Preliminary round in the process.

With so much on the line, both teams started brightly, however, in the fourth minute, some good play from Paul Robinson allowed fullback Chris McDonald to fire a curling effort at goal, only for Catterick to make a comfortable save.

Robinson was having a bright start to the game and in the 16th minute, his well-struck corner was missed by every attacker in the box, allowing Catterick to make another comfortable save.

Despite being under the cosh, Guisborough were handed a golden opportunity to take the lead when they were awarded a penalty. Coleman stepped up but he was unable to beat Purvis, who pulled off a brilliant double save to keep the scores level.

Purvis was having a fine half and in the 24th minute, his save once again kept the Robins in the game.

Ten minutes before the half time break, another brilliant move from Robinson releases Forster into space, only for the Robins captain to have his shot parried wide by the Guisborough keeper.

The best chance of the half fell just before half time for the Robins when Rhys Williams saw his powerful header brilliantly cleared off the line before Ryan Carr’s follow up effort was scrambled clear before the ball could bobble into the back of the net.

North Shields began the second half with the bit between their teeth and in the 50th minute, Carr was on the receiving end of a good Kyle Patton cross, only to fire his shot well over the bar.

Seconds later, Nick Cassidy, who was starting at fullback in place of the absent Ben Christensen, tried his luck from all of 30 yards, with the ball zipping inches wide of the upright.

Guisborough began to turn the screw themselves and in the 57th minute, they thought they had the lead through a close-range header from Earl. Luckily for the Robins, the home striker was adjudged to have strayed offside.

As time was running out for both teams, it seemed that a single goal would be enough to win this game. In the 66th minute, Connor Campbell nodded the ball down for Robinson, only for the experienced midfielder’s shot to deflect behind.

From the resulting corner, ex-Ashington defender Wayne Buchanan headed the ball narrowly over.

As the game was about to enter the final 10 minutes, the hosts finally made the breakthrough through substitute Roberts. The attacker found himelf in enough space at the far post, following a corner, to nod the ball into the back of the net.

With very little time to fight their way back into the game, the Robins were unable to penetrate the resolute Guisborough defence and once again, North Shields were knocked out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle.