Match Report
Saturday 29th July 2023
Ebac Northern League – Division One
‘Robins make flying start’
North Shields 3 – 0 Seaham Red Star
With a new dawn upon us and the spirits high as the new season kicked off, Dan Iredale and his management team would have been looking to get off to a good start.
GOAL 2’ NORTH SHIELDS – DAVID PALMER, 1-0
First Attack. First goal. A dream start for the Robins as the deadlock was broken after just two minutes. The ball worked to Brad Hird down the right, whose cross finds the head of David Palmer who glanced the ball home beyond Seaham Red Stars’ custodian.
The Robins continued on the front foot with Tom Potter fizzing an effort wide of the post and a free flowing move saw Potter caught in an offside position.
GOAL 17’ NORTH SHIELDS – DAVID PALMER, 2-0
The strong start continued for the Robins, David Palmer doubled the advantage and his tally for the afternoon, the ball played into the box, shouts for a foul inside the penalty on goalkeeper Jennison waved away as the ball fell Palmer to slot home.
Two goals to the good and in the driving seat, the dream start to the new season delivered.
Looking to add to his tally, David Palmer drove towards goal before firing a shot high and wide of the target, where laying the ball off to a team-mate may have been the better option.
GOAL 34’ NORTH SHIELDS – ANTH MYERS, 3-0
The dream start continued, a corner kick flew across goal evading everybody before landing to Myers who took a touch to settle himself before firing an effort goalbound, taking a slight deflection beyond Jennison to extend the lead to three.
The visitors moved the ball around well but were unable to pick their way through a stubborn Robins defence but as the half progressed started to apply pressure to the Robins goal. Jonny Ball was on hand to deny the visitors a break through
The visitors fizzed a dangerous ball across the face of goal on the verge of half time but nobody in a yellow shirt was at the back post to tap home.
Half time upon us, a brilliant start from Dan Iredale’s men, most would have struggled to dream of a better start.
Second half started with the visitors on the front foot, an effort from distance forced Ball into making a saving low down.
At the other end, Luke Salmon intercepted the ball just inside the Seaham half and drove forward before unleashing a tame effort, causing no danger to the Seaham goal.
Ball was called into action again, forced into making a fine save at his front post to deny the visitors from pulling one back.
The first change of the afternoon saw Connor Gales take the place of Dan Turner, who had worked hard all afternoon down the right hand side.
Another attack on the Robins goal, resulted in a goalmouth scramble with Luke Salmon clearing off the line to keep the visitor’s out.
Thomas McIntyre replaced Paul Van-Zandvliet in midfield, after another hard working performance.
The Robins failed to be as threatening in the second half, compared to the first half, appearing to be confident in the fact the three points were in the bag, and changed their attentions to keeping a clean sheet.
Despite the lack of chances in the second half for the Robins, a number of flowing passing moves, allowed the Robins to carve their way through the Seaham midfield but the final ball was lacking.
Seaham continued to look for a way back into the game but were reduced to efforts from distance causing no harm to the Robins goal.
More changes for the Robins saw Jack Leonard and Tom Bexton take the places of Tom Potter and David Palmer respectively, with less than 10 minutes left on the clock.
Connor Gales found himself in the match officials notebook, receiving a caution for a marginally late challenge going into a 50/50 on halfway.
The Robins were able to see out the remaining few minutes, without any great threats on their goal and record an opening day win.
A fully deserved victory based on the first half performance, the whole team worked relentlessly to ensure the opening day win. A promising start to the new campaign and still a lot more from the lads.
To be fair to Seaham, the kept going throughout the duration of the 90 minutes, at times moved the ball well and provided a threat to the Robins goal. On another day, they could have scored two or three themselves.
Wish we Seaham all the best for the season and look forward to our visit in December.
At full time, the ADVANCED GARAGE DOORS MOTM award was presented to Luke Salmon for a solid defensive performance, providing a number of crucial interceptions to keep the visitor’s.
Next up for the Robins is a trip to Ashington in the FAC Extra Priliminary Round this coming Saturday, with the winner awarded with a trip to Stockton Town in the next round.
North Shields: Ball, Forster, Thompson, Oliver, Myers, Salmon, Potter, Palmer, Hird, Van-Zandvliet, Turner.
Attendance: 272
Advanced Garage Doors MOTM: Luke Salmon
Next Up: Ashington (A) – FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round – 3pm
