Match Report
Saturday 25th March 2023
Northern Premier League – East Division
Ossett United 0 – 3 North Shields
‘Robins continue to fly high’. By Sam Cave
Marc Nash named an unchallenged starting XI to last week’s home win over Sheffield FC as they looked to continue their recent good run of form.
A minute’s silence was impeccably observed prior to kick-off by the 503 in attendance on Non-League Day in memory of David Huggins, honorary member and treasurer of Ossett Town between 1991-2006, who sadly passed away during the week.
GOAL 3’ North Shields – Connor Oliver, 0-1
The Robins in their away kit of black and white stripes, flew out of the traps and took the lead early doors through Connor Oliver, collecting the ball on the right hand side before cutting inside before letting fly from outside the area, the ball taking an fortunate bounce off the surface 6 yards out and over the top of the committed Paul Cooper.
Simon Jakab was on hand with a solid interception to curtail an early Ossett adventure into the Robins penalty area.
A number of fouls went unpunished for the hosts, however, when Chris McDonald halted a Ossett break on halfway the yellow card issued to the dismay of the traveling Robins support.
Ossett grew more into the game and on the 25th minute mark, the best chance of the half fell to Harry Coates, who headed over unmarked inside the penalty area.
On the back of the chance, the hosts looked like taking control of the game and had a majority of the possession but were unable to cause any real concerns for the Robins defense.
GOAL 40’ North Shields – Connor Oliver, 0-2
Having soaked up a large spell of pressure from the hosts, the Robins hit the hosts on the break, Chris McDonald driving deep into the Ossett half down the left, swung the ball into the center where Oliver, latched onto it, wrong footed the defender with a drop of the shoulder, turn and smashed the ball home beyond Cooper giving him no chance and doubling the Robins lead.
Great build up play from Shields, saw the ball worked to Dan Wilson, who fought his way past two defenders inside the penalty area before being upended, the match official deeming the striker to have dived awarding the hosts a free kick.
PENALTY MISS 45’ Ossett United
The Robins cruising and looking to see out the final few moments of the half were hit a blow when Ossett’s Cooper launched the ball from his own box, landing just outside the Robins box, Ossett’s Danny South tussling with marker before going down, the match official judged it to be inside the area and awaited the hosts a lifeline to get back in the game. Ossetts’ Oli Metcalfe stepped up and skied it high over the bar to the relief of the Robins.
Half time was upon us and the Robins deservedly led with clinical finishing when required, the hosts not quite out of the game, just lacking quality when required in the final third.
Wilson with the first chance of the second half, picked out after good work from Larmouth, was able to turn inside the earlier but unable to get off a shot.
Cam Cunningham tried his luck with an effort from outside area, looking to pick out the far corner with a low curled effort, well dealt with by Cooper.
Stephen Forster floated a ball over the top to Larmouth, who brought the ball down before firing just over the bar.
Another massive let off for the Robins, Alex Peterson who had haunted the Robins previously in the season for both Ossett and Sheffield, missed a glorious opportunity heading wide from only a couple of yards out.
Larmouth tried his luck again, this time stinging the palms of Cooper with a rasping effort from inside the area.
Aaron Steavens was called into action twice in as many minutes, firstly flying to punch clear a ball over the top before moments later making an important stop at his front post.
Steavens called into action again this time with a sublime one handed save to keep out what looked like a certain goal for the hosts, to reduce the deficit.
With time running out, the Robins withstood a barrage of offensive pressure from the hosts, Simon Jakab and Jack Walker heading and kicking everything that came near them, when the ball did get through it was not getting past Steavens who pulled off another important save to keep the hosts out.
GOAL 90’ North Shields – Chris McDonald, 0-3
With the hosts pushing high up the pitch, spaces began to open at the back and when the Robins hit on the counter, there was no chance of recovery, The ball worked down the left, Tom Potter, Callum Larmouth and Chris McDonald interlinking with each other as the ball fell to later, who fired home low and hard, capping off a magnificent afternoon for the Robins.
The win lifting the Robins up to 7th place in the league standings with five games left of the campaign.
North Shields: Steavens, Forster, McDonald, Oliver, Jakab, Walker, Van-Zandvliet, Palmer, Wilson, Cunningham, Larmouth.
Subs not used: Hodgson, Heppell
Attendance: 503
Next Up: Bridlington Town (H) – Saturday 1st April – 3pm
