With the lads on a high from their midweek win at home to Consett, Marc Nash made one change to the starting XI, with JJ Chrisp replacing the suspended Paul Van-Zandvliet to take on the Wilderness Boys.
GOAL 3’ North Shields – Callum Larmouth, 1-0
A blistering start to the game and a tone setter for the afternoon, Stephen Forster floated the ball up to Larmouth, whose first touch created enough space to fire a low effort across Liam Higton to give the Robins an early lead.
MInutes later, Chris McDonald was allowed to carry the ball down the left hand side and hung up a cross to the back post, which only just evaded Cam Cunningham.
At the other end, Aaron Steavens made a great one handed stop to deny Brody Robertson before Simon Jakab cleared to safety.
GOAL 12’ North Shields – Cam Cunningham, 2-0
Cam Cunningham supplied his entry for goal of the season, when he received the ball on the right hand side from Tom Potter, to then dance his way past Grimsby defense, cut inside and fire beyond Higton to double the Robins lead.
The hosts continued to play football and moved it well around the pitch, unfortunately for them the Robins defensive line stood strong with Walker and Jakab making vital interceptions.
The hosts must have thought that had pulled one back but David Palmer had other ideas, providing a crucial goal line clearance.
Both teams battled well in midfield as the half progressed, the hosts continuously looking for a way back into the game. The referee brought the first half proceedings to a conclusion and the Robins went at the break thoroughly deserving of the lead.
The second half started with the hosts having the first opportunity as the blasted a freekick straight into the wall.
The Robins looked to extend their lead as Larmouth battled well down the left to the byline, cut the ball back to Wilson in the middle, who first narrowly wide of the front post.
GOAL 53’ North Shields – Callum Larmouth, 3-0
Not to be outdone, Larmouth supplied his entry for goal of the season, link up play between JJ Chrisp and Cam Cunningham, who picked out Larmouth who finished off the move with an exquisite acrobatic effort, leaving Higton with no chance.
A couple of moments later, Chris McDonald almost caught Higton out with quick thinking as he tried his luck from a freekick on halfway.
At the other end, Steavens was alert to keep the hosts out just moments before Brody Robertson missed a glorious opportunity to pull one back, as he cut inside to create space for himself only to fire an effort well wide of the target.
Regan Paterson replaced Callum Larmouth on the hour mark and soon after Liam Doyle replaced Cam Cunningham.
Paterson flicked the ball over the top of the defense with a back heel, Cunningham latched onto it only to be taken out inside the area, the shouts for a penalty waved away the match official. In the aftermath of the incident Cunningham was pushed to the ground off the ball, the referee deemed the offense only a yellow card for Grimsby’s Tom Sawyer but also awarded them a freekick.
David Robinson powered his way through the Grimsby defense, firing an effort narrowly wide of the target, followed up by Dan Wilson powering his way and forcing a corner.
GOAL 83’ North Shields – Regan Paterson, 4-0
The ball played into Wilson on the edge of the area, who turned and shot, forcing a parried save out of Higton, who couldn’t react in time to deny Paterson, steaming in to tap home.
GOAL 90’ North Shields – Liam Doyle, 5-0
Capping off a fine afternoon for the Robins, Doyle fired home six yards after being laid off by Wilson, drove into the penalty area to the byline and cut it back to Doyle, who composed himself and picked out a gap to fire home.
Without doubt of the performance of the season to date, a result a long time in the making based on performances across the season, credit to Grimsby Borough who didn’t give up throughout the afternoon.
North Shields: Steavens, Forster, McDonald, Palmer, Jakab, Walker, Van-Zandvliet, Cunningham (Doyle), Wilson, Potter (Robinson), Larmouth (Paterson).
Subs not used: Bexton, Heppell
Attendance: 172
Next Up: Tadcaster Albion (A) – Tuesday 21st February – 7.45
