Match Report
Saturday 16th November 2024
EBAC Northern League
Penrith 0 – 2 North Shields
‘Robins make it four wins on the bounce’
A second away game of the week saw the Robins make the trip across the A69 to take on Penrith at the Frenchfield Stadium.
Looking to build on from the good win in midweek at Birtley, Brian Smith continued with Sean McCafferty between the posts with Kyle Downey and Lewis Suddick returning to the starting eleven.
GOAL Penrith 0 – 1 NORTH SHIELDS – Lewis Suddick ‘2
The Robins couldn’t have dreamt up a better start to the game, the very first attack and venture into the penalty area, Lee Mason looking to get on the end of a through ball, only to be bundled over by the outrushing keeper, awarding a penalty to Robins. Lewis Suddick stepped and calmly dispatched the penalty, sending the keeper the wrong way.
The hosts, having conceded the early goal, looked to apply pressure on the Robins defensive line, moving the ball about well, looking for an opening, which were very few and far between.
A freekick awarded to the hosts was overhit, sailing harmlessly out for a goal kick.
At the other, Lashley causing problems for the hosts defence with his pace and trickery, was brought down on the edge of the area, nothing given by the match official.
Lashley tried his luck with a speculative effort, picking up the ball inside the centre circle, spotting the keeper off his line, unfortunately the execution wasn’t on point.
Penrith continued to press and get back into the game, had an effort trickle just wide of the post front post and trickle harmlessly wide.
A great ball over the top, picked out McCamley down the right, twisting and turning before delivering a brilliant ball into the middle, Mason just unable to get on the end of it.
GOAL Penrith 0 – 2 NORTH SHIELDS – Kyle Downey ‘35
Lashley brought down just outside of the penalty area, awarding the Robins a chance from a dangerous position. Both Lewis Suddick and Kyle Downey stood over hit, it was latter who took control of the situation, stepping up and hitting a left footed rocket into the top corner, leaving the keeper no chance.
On the stroke of half time, the Robins should have out the game to bed with a third before the break, Mason picking out Lashley with a diagonal pass from his own half, Lashley twisting and turning before picking out Suddick in the middle, who saw his first time finish blocked with a great save low down.
The Robins ahead at the break, capitalising from two opportunities and making them count to go in with the lead, the hosts left frustrated having had a larger share of possession but unable to cause any real danger for the Robins.
The Robins started the second half on the attack, a freekick swung into Coppen at the back post, rising highest to head it back across goal, the home defence able to clear their lines.
Moments later Lashley had a couple of chances, firstly lashing an effort across the face of goal, then being picked out by Mason, only to scuff his effort wide from outside the area.
A first change of the afternoon saw Dan Waldon replace Lee Mason.
A big let off for the Robins, possession given away cheaply deep in their own half, the hosts not able to capitalise as the chance was squandered and fired high over the top.
The Robins continued to stand strong as a defensive unit, frustrating the hosts, not giving them any time to get any momentum built up, a long ball into the penalty area, watched out of play by McCafferty.
As the game entered into the last 15 minutes, Brian Smith made more changes with Danny Anderson replacing Kyle Downey and Lewis Henry replacing Dean Holmes, as the Robins looked to freshen the legs and see out the game.
Continuing to dig in deep and work hard for each as a defensive unit, the Robins were compact and defended well to keep the hosts out, battling for every ball and making sure the ball ventured nowhere near the Robins goal.
With the hosts running out of time to get something from the game and looking to get the ball moved up the pitch as quick as possible, the Robins defending from the front, Suddick stole possession inside the Penrith half, driving towards goal and looked to settle the game, curling an effort beyond the Penrith keeper but didn’t quite get the connection required.
A final change for the Robins saw Nick Cassidy replace Will McCamley as the game went into added time.
The final piece of action saw McCafferty pull off a neat save low down, to keep the hosts out and stop them pulling one back.
The match official brought the game to its conclusion, resulting in a fourth win on the bounce for Brian Smith’s side and a rapturous applause from the travelling Robins support who had been in fine voice all afternoon.
Next up for the Robins, Tow Law Town are the visitors to the Daren Persson Stadium on Saturday 23rd November with a 3pm KO.
North Shields: McCafferty, Marrs, Lough, Downey, Coppen, Harmison, McCamley, Holmes, Mason ©, Suddick, Lashley.
Subs: Cassidy, D Anderson, Henry, E Anderson, Waldon.
Goal Scorers:
Penrith: N/A
North Shields: Suddick ‘2, Downey ‘35.
Attendance: 203
Next Up: Tow Law Town (H) – Saturday 23rd November – 3pm
