Saturday 16th March 2024
EBAC Northern League Division One
North Shields 0 – 2 Bishop Auckland
‘Robins make league leaders work for victory’
With a crucial win in the bag on Tuesday night at Tow Law, a difficult task stood in the way of Brian Smith’s men as league leaders Bishop Auckland were the visitors to the Daren Persson Stadium.
Dean Homes returned to the starting eleven, with Ben Harmison starting in defense as Alex Nicholson led the Robins out.
The first half chance of the game fell to Luke Salmon driving from left back, only to be pushed off the ball.
The visitor’s replied with a half chance of their own, firing an effort into the car park from outside the area.
Appeals from the hosts were ignored by the match official after a stern challenge to win back possession on the edge of his own area.
An unwanted forced substitution had to be made as Nicholson pulled up, to be replaced by Lewis Henry.
Curtis Coppen found his name in the match officials notebook after putting a stop to a dangerous break from the visitors, the resulting freekick slammed into the wall.
The best chance of the half, fell to Matty Telfer, after a Holmes won back possession high up the pitch, skipping past a defender before playing the ball into Telfer, the Two Blues defense swarmed around the youngster, as his effort deflected out for a corner.
Will McCamley went on a miraculous 70 yard run, hitting the league leaders on the counters, skipping past 4players, driving into the penalty, only to be undone by a bobble as the youngster looked to unleash a strike on goal.
On the verge of half time, a dangerous ball into the Shields box, the Robins defense threw bodies in every direction to ensure that the ball didn’t find the back of the net.
The Two Blues found themselves reduced to 10 men temporarily as Liam Henderson was sent to the sin bin after an altercation with the assistant referee.
A very tight first half of football, the Robins with the more clear cut chances and probably should have gone into the break with the lead, the visitors showing glimpses of danger on the attack.
Matty Telfer with the first chance of the second half played through on goal but was unable to get a shot off as the visiting defense was able to recover and provide a crucial block to deny the youngster.
GOAL BISHOP AUCKLAND 0-1 – CRAIG GOTT ‘62
PENALTY – A mazy run into the penalty from the visitors down the right, cutting into the penalty to byline, shouts for handball from the players and following supporters behind the ball ensued as the match official pointed to the spot. Gott placed the ball before sending Dobson the wrong way, a massive blow for the Robins.
A double change saw the introduction of Pritchard and Kwak in place of Holmes and Downey with half an hour left on the clock.
Cai Pritchard was involved imminently from his introduction only to see his cross into the penalty blocked by the defense, at the other end Dobson kept the Robins in the game with a superb save.
Another double change saw the introduction of Mason and Anderson in place of Telfer and McGowan.
As the Robins looked to draw level, Harmison was on hand with a half chance as he looked to slide the ball across the face of goal, moments laterSalmon tried his luck from the edge of the area.
Ben Harmison, now moved into the frontline, working tirelessly, won a freekick in the corner to give the Robins an ideal opportunity to draw level in the dying embers of the game.
GOAL BISHOP AUCKLAND 0-2 – LOUIS JOHNSON ‘90
A terrific ball played into the penalty, the visitors hit on the counter, a flowing move tapped home from close range by Johnson to provide that knockout blow to the Robins.
Another from the Robins that deserved so much more than a defeat, on another day we could have been two up at the break but the visitors showed why they are top of the league, a great game of football played out by two good sides.
At full time the Advanced Garage Doors MOTM was presented to Ben Harmison for a top notch display.
We pick ourselves up and dust ourselves off as up next, we welcome Crook Town to the Daren Persson Stadium on Wednesday night (20th March) with a 7.30pm kick off.
North Shields: Dobson, Fletcher, Salmon, Nicholson ©, Coppen, Harmison, McCamley, Downey, Telfer, McGowan, Holmes.
Subs: Henry, Kwak, Anderson, Pritchard, Mason.
Goal Scorers: None
Advanced Garage Doors MOTM: Ben Harmison
Attendance: 329
Up Next: Crook Town – Wednesday 20th March – 7.30pm
