A stunning second half performance saw the Robins run out comfortable 4-2 winners away at Newton Aycliffe.
A Paul Robinson goal midway through the first half cancelled out a fine strike from Tom Gavin for the hosts.
But as the game entered the second period, goals from Gary Day, Craig Spooner and another for Robinson saw the Robins run away with the game.
And despite a late consolation goal by Matthew Pennal, Newton Aycliffe left it far too late and the visitors held on for an impressive win.
It was the hosts who started the brighter in gusty conditions and after only eight minutes, Gavin was on hand to fire the ball home from outside the area; past the outstretched hand of Shields keeper Greg Purvis.
This opportunity seemed to awaken the visiting Robins and in the 18th minute, a delicate Robinson cross was deflected millimetres wide of the upright by Gary Ormston.
Shields were beginning to press and before long, in the 26th minute, Robinson’s deft touch helped him beat his marker on the edge of the box before the ex-Blyth Spartans midfielder rifled his effort past the Newton Aycliffe shot-stopper.
As the wind picked up, the hosts seemed to sit deeper and deeper; allowing the Robins to come piling forwards. Robinson was on hand with another excellent effort in the 33rd minute, only for the ball to drift inches over the crossbar.
The second half started slowly, with both teams seeming to look to adjust to the unpredictable conditions. However, in the 60th minute, Gary Day towered above his marker to head the ball towards the Newton goal. Unfortunately, home keeper James Winter pulled off an excellent save to keep the scores level.
Despite his heroics, there was nothing Winter could do about the Robins second goal as Day’s effort took a deflection off a defender before cannoning into the back of the net after 61 minutes.
With the conditions beginning to settle, the visitors piled forward in search of that killer third goal and on the 77th minute, a long-range effort from substitute Bobby Taylor was just about kept out of the back of the net by the keeper.
One minute later, Shields had their deserved third goal when Robinson once again lashed the ball into the back of the net; courtesy of a deflection off the bottom of the post.
The Robins attack was now beginning to enjoy themselves as the Newton Aycliffe defence struggled to deal with the constant waves of attack.
Summerly, who was simply unstoppable, burst free down the flank in the 85th minute before working his way into the penalty area. Unfortunately, his rasping shot fizzed across the face of goal and narrowly wide of the keepers left hand post.
They put this game to bed in the 86th minute when another substitute, this time Craig Spooner, weaved his way past some static Newton defenders before firing his shot into the goal off the post.
There was just time for a home consolation goal via Matthew Pennal after he had reacted quickest to a thunderous long range shot from Dinsdale which crashed against the bar. However, the hosts knew the game was up as the referee blew his whistle shortly after the restart.
Final Score: Newton Aycliffe 2 North Shields 4
Attendance: 93
Referee: James Westgate
Newton Aycliffe Starting Eleven: James Winter, Ross Hutchinson (Vincent Gash 39), Shaun Hudson, Wilfred Dinsdale, Daniel Mitton, Ellis Husband, Marc Costello, Tom Gavin, Kurt Matthews (Stuart Thompson 73), Ian Ward (Matthew Pennal 62), Aaron Brown
Unused Substitutes: Liam Browne, Alan Harrison
North Shields Starting Eleven: Greg Purvis, Stuart Donnison, Jordan Summerly, David Hall (Adam Forster 71), Curtis Coppen, Kevin Hughes, Sean McRoberts (Bobby Taylor 67), Gary Ormston (Craig Spooner 81), Gary Day, Ryan Carr, Paul Robinson
Unused Substitutes: Callum Johnston, Lewis Suddick
