Saturday 11th February 2023
Pitching In North Premier League – East Division
Grantham Town 1 – 0 North Shields
‘Robins left infuriated’
By Sam Cave
At the end of a good week for the Robins, they made the long trip south to take on the Gingerbreads’.
Only change was made from Wednesday’s spirited performance against Stockton with David Palmer replacing David Robinson in midfield.
Red Card 2’ North Shields – Paul Van-Zandvliet
Chris McDonald with a long throw down the line, PVZ appeared to stand his ground in an innocuous challenge with his marker, who fell to a heap on the floor which the match official deemed a red card offense.
Moments later, the Robins worked their way into the penalty area, the ball finding Callum Larmouth in the middle, who was upended as the defender failed to make any contact with the ball, appeals for a penalty waved away to the bewilderment of those in red.
David Palmer then found himself on the end of a heavy challenge on the edge of the area, again all appeals waved away by the match official.
Moments later, Palmer challenged to win back possession with a tackle deep inside the Gingerbreads’ half, deemed a yellow card by the match official, insetting more frustration for the Robins.
The hosts missed a golden opportunity to break the deadlock as the ball was cleared off the line for a corner. The subsequent corner was headed goal bound only to be cleared off the line once again.
Larmouth and Forster linked up well down the left, with the latter almost catching out Dan Haystead at his front post.
Despite being a man down, the Robins were comfortable and matched the hosts in all areas of the pitch.
Forster again down the right, swung in a dangerous cross into the box, missing the head of Larmouth by the smallest of margins.
Connor Oliver tried his luck from distance from a freekick, narrowly clearing the cross bar.
As the half neared its conclusion, Larmouth smartly won the Robins a corner, which picked out Jakob at the back post, who fired a header wide of the target.
The first brought to a conclusion and the Robins feeling hard done by to a man down for what appeared to be an innocuous challenge, still had a foothold in the game.
The second half started and more frustration for the Robins, attacking down the left, Larmouth tangling with his marker and the match official gave a freekick to the hosts.
The Gingerbreads had the first clear cut shot of the second half, when Joe Stacey drove in front he left, only to be denied by a smart save from Steavens’ with his feet.
The Robins had chances through Oliver, who dragged an effort wide of the target before McDonald stung the palms of Haystead.
The Robins continued to hold their own, standing strong at the back and looking to hit on the break when the opportunity presented itself.
A pivotal moment in the game came with a quarter of an hour left on the clock, Cam Cunningham broke down the left, lost possession and fought to get back the ball, his Gingerbread opponent clearly with two hands to Cunninghams’ face, pushing him to the floor. The match official somehow only deemed it a yellow card offense, he also decided to book Cunningham and award Grantham a freekick. This took the level of frustration to a whole new level.
GOAL 75’ Grantham Town – Mason Lee, 1-0
From the resulting freekick, the hosts took the lead, the ball swung into the box, the ball scrambled around the box before falling to Lee, to tap home beyond Steavens.
Not giving up hope the Robins went in search for a way back into the game, good play down the right, Paterson who had replaced Cunnigham, linked up with Oliver, who forced a corner only to be ruled out as the match official awarded the hosts with a foul on the keeper.
Moments later, Larmouth latched onto a loose ball just outside the area and tried an audacious chip, only to be denied by the crossbar as Haystead was left stranded.
Larmouth then tried his luck again, forcing a good low down save from Haystead in the Gingerbreads’ goal.
The referee indicated 4 minute added time but an equalizer was not to come our way, defeat for the Robins and a bitter taste left in the mouth.
North Shields: Steavens, Forster, McDonald, Walker, Jakob, Potter (Wilson), Van-Zandvliet, Oliver, Palmer (Doyle), Larmouth, Cunningham
Subs not used: Chrisp
Attendance: 238
Next fixture: Consett (H) – Wednesday 15th February – 7.45pm
