Match report by Jacob Bolam – Media Assistant
A ruthless last 15 minutes from Shields saw them net four times and take all three points in a tough encounter.
It took both sides a while to get going in the opposition half, a lot of the ball action occurring in the middle of the park.
Right-back Andy Cartwright had a great chance to open the scoring after 26 minutes after Regan Paterson did well to put a cross in, but Cartwright hit his effort well over the crossbar.
Shields then came within inches of scoring when Cam Cunningham hit the crossbar, and Crook Town put several bodies on the line to prevent the Robins scoring from the rebound.
The half looked destined to finish goalless, but David Robinson had other plans when he picked up the ball around in midfield, and rifled one into the top corner from 30 yards out to open the scoring.
Half-Time – North Shields 1-0 Crook Town
It looked as if second half sub Dan Wilson doubled Shields’ lead on the hour mark when he got on the end of a Cunningham cross, but the linesman indicated the ball hadn’t crossed the line.
Town looked to be in for an equaliser just one minute later, but some heroic defending by Anth Myers kept the score the same.
Paterson, who was a thorn in the opposition defence all evening, then scored the second goal on the 75th minute after carrying the ball over 20 yards and finishing at the near post.
Dan Wilson then out the game beyond reach for the opponents when he netted in the 85th minute, after brilliant work by both Robinson and Paterson to keep the ball in play.
Wilson then added a fine display with a second just three minutes later, when his fellow substitute Chrisp got on the end of a cross and gave to it to the striker in front of an empty net to finish off the game.
Full-Time – North Shields 4-0 Crook Town
North Shields: O.Marshall, A.Cartwright, C.McDonald, G.Ormston, A.Myers, J.Walker, C.Cunningham, A.Forster ©, B.Hird, D.Robinson, R.Paterson
Subs: D.Wilson (58’), J.Chrisp (70’), B.Milburn (88’)
Crook Town: R.Makepeace, A.Nelson, T.Gavin, J.Fielding, O.Eckles-Aldsworth, D.Myers, L.Hume ©, P.Caley, M.Hurworth, E.Forster
Subs: T.Nicholas (45’), T.Pascoe (81’)
Man of the Match: David Robinson
Attendance: 274
