Match Report
Saturday 12th August 2023
Ebac Northern League – Division One
‘Shildon Stalemate’
North Shields 0 – 0 Shildon
With an emphatic win midweek over Carlisle City, Dan Iredale’s side came into the game on a high and full of confidence in knowing what would be a difficult game.
The first half started in blustery conditions with the visitors playing with the wind behind them in the first half as they looked to capitalize on the conditions.
Regan Paterson won the Robins first corner kick of the game, just shy of 10 minutes with a great run down the left hand side, to which nothing came of it.
A flowing move shortly after involving Hird and Paterson was squashed via the offside flag.
A quarter of an hour played and our visitors were presented with their first real chance of the game, when awarded a freekick just outside of the area. The resulting freekick clipped the bottom of the post and out for a goal kick.
Despite the wind in the Robins face, they continued to attack on the front foot, using both flans to look for a way to break through the Shildon defence, Stephen Forster produced the best chance of the game on the hour mark whipping in a great ball to centre, where Tom Potter latched onto it only to be denied by a great block at the back post.
Five minutes later, Brad Hird thought he had opened the scoring and gave the Robins the lead, firing home from a tight angle into the roof of the net, only to be denied by the offside flag in what was a tight call.
Minutes later, a defence splitting through ball presented Hird with a great chance one on one, driving towards goal only to see progression towards goal undone by the ball getting trapped beneath his feet allowing the covering defender to catch up and block the shot for a corner.
Half time approaching, the visitors who didn’t cause much trouble to the Robins defence were presented with another chance with a freekick again just outside the area, the resulting freekick straight at Jonny Ball who dispatched of the effort confidently.
Half time upon us the Robins, unlucky not to be ahead, were the better team and did well to cope with the conditions against them and the visitors failed to cause any real trouble for the Robins, with the game goalless and the second half to come, could either team find a breakthrough?
Now with the wind behind them, the second half started bright for the Robins winning an early corner but once again unable to capitalize on the opportunity to find a breakthrough.
MInutes later another good move down the right and Forster finding plenty of the space and allowed to whip in a dangerous cross but no team-mates could connect with the cross.
The visitors with their first chance of the second half, Joe Posthill broke quickly towards the Robins goal before hitting an effort agonizingly wide of the post to the relief of the Robins.
A route one freekick, for the Robins unlocked the Shildon defence as Paterson raced beyond the last defender and did well to make contact with the ball first time, as his effort flew narrowly over the top, causing uncertainty for the Shildon custodian.
With an hour played and the game still at a stalemate, Dan Iredale saw it as time to make changes as he introduced Jack Leonard and Connor Gales for Dan Turner and Brad Hird respectively.
Gales almost with an instant impact, a dangerous freekick from Connor Oliver swung to the back post, evading everybody as it reached its way to Gales, who unfortunately was not able to find the decisive touch.
With around 15 minutes left, the game still tied at 0-0, another chance fell to the Robins and Gales as another cross to the back post, Gales rose highest and thundered a header off the outside of the post.
Thomas McIntyre took the place of Regan Paterson with 10 minutes left plus stoppage time.
A moment controversy in the dying embers of the game, as the visitors swung in a deep ball into the Robins box, Jonny Ball came out looking to clear his lines in punching the ball away only to collide with Tom Bexton and a Shildon player in the process, shouts for a penalty waived by the match official.
One last attack for the visitors, produced a fine save from ball low down to the left with a stiff arm to keep the visitors out.
A frustrating afternoon for the Robins, having to settle for a share of the spoils.
With the games coming thick and fast, we go again on Tuesday night as we make the short trip up the coast road as we visit Newcastle Benfield at Sam Smith Park on Tuesday night with a 7.30pm kick off.
We hope you can join us to cheer on the lads and help them continue the good start to the league campaign.
North Shields: Ball, Forster, Thompson, Oliver, Myers ©, Bexton, Potter, Van-Zandvliet, Hird (Gales), Turner (Leonard), Paterson (McIntyre).
Advanced Garage Doors MOTM: Tom Bexton
Attendance: 246
Next Up: Newcastle Benfield (A) – Ebac Northern League Div One – Tuesday 15th August – 7.30pm
