Wednesday 14th February 2023
Pitching In North Premier League – East Division
North Shields 1 – 0 Consett
‘Robins land long awaited win ’
A touch of finesse and class from Cam Cunningham was enough for the Robins to record their first win of 2023.
The Robins didn’t take long to go on the offensive front, Callum Larmouth denied by Mark Foden in the 1st minute.
The Robins looked to control the tempo of the game with the visitors looking to break up any momentum by any way possible, which saw a multitude of freekicks, given each way.
A mishap at the back for the visitors with Arjun Purewal with a swing and a miss, almost let in Cam Cunningham.
Good link up play between Stephen Forster and Tom Potter, resulted in Potter being brought down on the edge of the box. The free kick fell to David Palmer who drove into the 18 yard box before unleashing an effort narrowly over the top.
Callum Larmouth danced his way across the edge of the 18 yard before being brought down insisted the D, he picked himself up to lash the ball agonizingly over, causing Foden to scramble.
GOAL 35’ North Shields – Cameron Cunningham, 1-0
The deserved breakthrough came in the 35th minute, the ball played over the top which Larmouth went in pursuit of only to be cynically blocked, leaving him on the deck, the Consett defense stopped and Cam Cunningham pounced on to the loose ball, clipping the ball first time over the out rushing Foden and into the back of the net.
The Robins saw out the rest of the half, with the visitors not providing any real threat for the Steavens between the posts.
The second half saw the Robins continue on the front foot, forcing the Consett defense to clear for a corner, with the first attack of the half.
Dan Wilson then drove his way into the penalty, crossing to the back post but no red shirt was insight.
Dan Wilson then linked up Paul Van Zandvliet, to play in Cam Cunningham who was unable to double his tally and the Robins advantage.
The Robins then accumulated three consecutive corners but were unable to capitalize on the opportunities.
Cunningham then latched onto a ball played over the top, as he drove towards the penalty area he was forced out by former Robin’ Ben Milburn.
JJ Chrisp replaced Dan Wilson with 20 minutes left on the clock, Nathan Kidd replaced Tom Potter to make his home debut for the Robins soon after.
At the other end, Consett looking for a way back in the game, the ball fell to Cyril Giraud who let fly from outside the area, gave Steavens’ something to think about but thankfully was always rising over the top.
The visitors had all 11 players up for a corner as the final whistle approached, thankfully nothing came from it.
That couldn’t be said a few moments later, Consett awarded a freekick which was swung in and headed off the bar, to the relief of everybody in red.
The Robins hit the visitors on the counter deep into the 6 minutes of added time indicated by the match officials, the ball squared to Kidd in the middle, whose effort was denied well by Foden to deny him a debut goal.
The Robins saw out the final moments of the game to record their first win of the calendar year.
At full time, the Pub & Kitchen Player of the Game was awarded to Cam Cuinnigham to cap off a brilliant performance, causing problems for the Consett defense all night and scorer of the all important goal.
Over the course of the 90 minutes, the Robins were well deserved of the win, good use of the ball and created a number of chances, which could have resulted in 3 or 4 goals, had those chances been taken.
The win will fill the lads full of confidence and will look to build on it at the weekend as they travel to Grimsby Borough.
North Shields: Steavens, Forster, McDonald, Palmer, Jakab, Walker, Van-Zandvliet, Cunningham, Wilson (Chrisp), Potter (kidd), Larmouth (Paterson).
Subs not used: Doyle
Pub & Kitchen Player of the game: Cameron Cunningham
Attendance: 298
Next fixture: Grimsby Borough (A) – Saturday 18th February – 3pm
