Match Report
Saturday 18th August 2023
Ebac Northern League – Division One
‘Unbeaten start extended’
Crook Town 1 – 1 North Shields
Following on from a midweek draw at Newcastle Benfield, a second consecutive away game was in store for Dan Ireldale’s men with a trip to County Durham to take on Crook Town.
Looking for a reaction from Wednesday and an improved performance, Anth Myers returned to the heart of the defence and Connor Gales started up front.
An early scare for the Robins as almost immediately from kick off, a long ball over the top from Crook resulted in Myers and Bexton colliding, with the later going down injured, fortunately he was able to pick himself up after treatment and continue.
A slow start for the Robins meant that their first real chance of the game did not come until 10 minutes, when a corner swung in from Connor Oliver evaded the dozen or so people standing inside the 6 yard box.
A long punt from Jonny Ball, flicked on by David Palmer released Regan Paterson through on goal only for advance on Crook’s goal to be halted immediately for a soft decision against Palmer as he judged to have pushed a Crook player in the process.
Another long ball over the top, this time Palmer and Gales colliding, resulting in play being stopped as Palmer required treatment.
A few minutes later and Shields finding progress with balls over the top, Gales being the target man, found himself in the wars again, this time with an opposition player, unable to continue this time as forced off with injury enforcing an early change as Brad Hird took his place.
GOAL 29’ CROOK TOWN – ZACHARY BEWLEY, 1-0
A well timed through ball, caused chaos for the Robins defence as Bewley found himself through on goal, only to be upended inside the penalty area, the match official rejecting all appeals of the defence’s innocence and awarding the home team a spot kick, Bewley picked himself up and dusted himself off to take the penalty himself and sending Ball the wrong way.
The Robins finding themselves a goal behind, injected life into the attack as they looked for an immediate reply, Tom Potter forcing a corner to which nothing came from it.
A flurry of attacks on the Crook goal presented the Robins another chance from a corner, again with the 6 yard box crowded, Crook’s custodian Curran got a hand to it, only for the match official to award a goal kick to the frustration of the Robins.
With Shields looking for a way back into the game and pressing on the front foot, looking to play at pace were met with more frustration when the match official halted the game to inform the benches of how much added time there was to be added on… 6 minutes.
GOAL 45+’ NORTH SHIELDS – REGAN PATERSON, 1-1
Deep into stoppage time, yet another corner for the Robins, this time from the far side, the ball worked to Paterson, who clips the ball towards the back post to see the ball nestle into the back of the net…100% a definite shot.
Half time upon and the game tied, Shields the stronger of the two sides as the half progressed, Crook proving to provide a threat and problems for Shields, Shields lacking the killer touch in the final third as could have been more.
With the second half ahead of them, Shields would be looking to continue applying pressure and make it count by taking the lead and pushing on.
Crook had the first chance of the second half, forcing Ball into making a good save low down to his left.
A second change saw Tom McIntyre replace Joe Thompson at full back.
Tom Potter looked to take the game to Crook, driving forward at every opportunity, looking for a way to break through the Crook defence.
David Palmer picked the ball inside his own before driving down the centre of the pitch, going past three or four Crook players with ease before being hacked down.
Tom Potter again looking to find a way through the Black and Ambers defence, worked his way past two defenders before hitting an effort wide of the target.
Dan Turner was introduced to the game in place of David Palmer, who’d worked tirelessly.
Anth Myers unlocked the Crook defence, releasing Paterson to latch onto the ball and cut it back to the centre, unfortunately not able to pick out a team-mate in the middle.
Brad Hird found himself through on goal, only to be denied by the outrushing Curran who was quick off his line to block and clear his lines.
Yet another corner to Shields but once again a similar outcome as nothing came from it as Regan Paterson scuffed an effort over the top.
Joe Robson took the place of Anth Myers inside the last 10 minutes, getting his few minutes under his belt after returning to the club.
A well worked move down the left for the Robins, Potter linking with Forster, the ball crossed low and hard into the middle, looking destined to find Hird in the middle to fire home only to have the ball nicked off his toes and booted into touch.
Deep into stoppage time in the second half, Crook found themselves with a corner and a chance to clinch all 3 points, the ball whipped into the front post, the ball turned goalwards only for Jonny Ball to be alert to it, cover ground quick enough to keep the ball out, colliding with the upright in the process.
A tough afternoon for the Robins, a game in which enough possession was held but not enough done in the final third.
Fair play to Crook who made it difficult for us throughout the 90 minutes, had chances of their own and could have won it at the death. We look forward to welcoming them to the Daren Persson Stadium later in the season.
Next up we take on Guisborough Town at the Daren Perssion Stadium this coming Saturday with a 3pm kick-off.
North Shields: Ball, Forster, Thompson, Myers, Oliver©, Bexton, Potter, Van-Zandvliet, Hird, Palmer, Paterson.
Goal Scorers: Patterson (44’)
Attendance: 312
Next Up: Guisborough Town (H) – Ebac Northern League Div One – Saturday 26th August – 3pm
