Match Report
Saturday 23rd September 2023
Isuzu FA Vase – Second Qualifying Round
‘Robins squander advance in Vase’
North Shields 2 – 3 West Auckland Town
Dan Iredale and his team came into the contest full of confidence having beat the league leaders Birtley Town a week earlier, as they looked to advance in this season’s FA Vase.
The Opposition could not be taken lightly having dismantled Washington in the previous round 8-0.
New signing Brad Chisholm, started from the bench, with Brad Hird taking the reins up front.
Just 3 minutes in and the Robins were dealt with a blow when David Palmer had to be withdrawn after going down innocuously on half way, Tom McIntyre taking his place.
Connor Oliver won back the ball with an expertly timed sliding tackle before releasing the ball to Regan Paterson, who could only see his effort saved well by Nick Liversedge in goal for the visitors.
MInutes later and the best chance to open the scoring fell to Tom Potter, after linking up well with Brad Hird, his left footed effort flashing agonizingly wide of the far post.
Quarter of an hour in and the visitors created the first period of trouble for the Robins as Luke Salmon was forced to clear his lines at the back post under pressure with a header.
Connor Oliver was presented the opportunity from a set piece but could not keep his effort down as it cleared the crossbar.
Shields turned defence into attack, countering from a West corner, the ball working its way to Hird who stung the palms of Liversedge, with a ferocious right footed volley from a tight angle.
GOAL 42’ NORTH SHIELDS – BRAD HIRD, 1-0.
The breakthrough came just before halftime, Brad Hird firing the ball into the roof of the net, beyond Liversedge, giving the keeper very little chance.
Half time upon us, the Robins with the lead, looked the more likely to score of the two teams, having created the more clear cut chances, West Auckland looked dangerous from set pieces, giving the Robins defence a couple of things to think about.
The second half started with the Robins going immediately on the attack, Regan Paterson breaking down the right only to see his cross into the box, defended well by the recovering defence for a corner.
Brad Hird thought he had doubled the Robins advantage and got his second of the afternoon, reacting quickest to a parried effort, finishing first time from a tight angle only to be judged offside.
Anth Myers at the other hand was on hand to supply good covering defensive work to extinguish a West Auckland advance on the Robins penalty area.
An hour on the clock saw the introduction of new signing Brad Chisholm as he replaced Dan Turner.
Within minutes of being on the pitch, Chisholm found himself through on goal, firing an effort just over the angle.
Tom Potter tried an effort from distance but could not find a way past Liversedge.
GOAL 70’ NORTH SHIELDS – BRADLEY CHISHOLM, 2-0
The debutant not wasting any time, played in on goal after good work Paterson, fired the ball beyond Liversedge, doubling the lead and putting one foot in the next round for the Robins.
Minutes later, it should have been three for the Robins, Tom McIntyre danced his way through the West defence, only to be denied Liversedge with another vital save for the visitors.
GOAL 80’ WEST AUCKLAND TOWN – CHARLIE WOOD, 2-1
A break down the right by the hosts, Corey Nicholson skipped his way through the Robins defence before squaring the ball to Wood to tap home.
The visitors almost levelled the game, when substitute Jordan Blinco unmarked headed an effort goal bound only to be denied by Hodgson who held the effort well.
GOAL 84’ WEST AUCKLAND TOWN – JORDAN BLINCO, 2-2
Not too dissimilar to their first goal, this time Joshua Scott burst into the penalty area before squaring the ball to Blinco, who made no mistake this time, firing the visitors level.
The game turned on its head well and truly, in a matter of minutes, the Robins had gone looking like being in Monday’s draw to finding themselves pulled back and stuck with the brakes on.
GOAL 90’ WEST AUCKLAND TOWN – CHARLIE WOOD, 2-3
The visitors completed the turnaround, a break down the left drew a foul and a freekick for the visitor’s in a dangerous position. The freekick swung in, Charlie Wood timing it well to rise and power a header into the back of the net.
With just a matter of minutes left on the clock, the Robins had one last push to draw the game level, pushing everybody into the box, including Hodgson, a deep freekick, flicked on but nobody was on hand for the Robins as the ball found its way to Liversedge.
The match official brought the game to its conclusion to the adulation of the visitors and disappointment for the Robins. A game which at one point, there looked to be only one winner, but a team like West Auckland can not be written off, a mad five minute spell resulted in the Robins’ undoing.
The Robins change their focus back to league action, when we welcome Redcar Athletic to the Daren Persson Stadium on Saturday 30th September.
North Shields: Hodgson, Forster, Thompson, Oliver. Myers ©, Salmon, Paterson, Potter, Hird, Palmer, Turner..
Goal Scorers: Brad Hird (‘42), Brad Chisholm (‘70)
Attendance: 268
Advanced Garage Doors MOTM: Tom Potter
Next Up: Redcar Athletic – EBAC Northern League Div One – Saturday 30th September – 3pm
