The Robins ran riot over high-flying Hebburn Town as they came away with an emphatic 4-1 win.
After Callum Johnston’s early goal was ruled out for offside, the Robins quickly reacted when Sean McRoberts’ wonder-strike from 25-yards-out flew into the top corner of the net.
Two goals from Ryan Carr and Paul Robinson gave the home side a comfortable cushion over the visitors heading into the break.
An early second half goal from Luke Sullivan gave the Hornets hope of making a spectacular comeback.
However, a late goal from Craig Spooner ensured that the Robins came away from today with a deserved three points.
The Hornets almost had the perfect start to the game in the first minute when midfielder Michael Richardson shaped to shoot from outside the penalty area, however, his effort flew several yards over the crossbar.
After a nervy opening couple of minutes, the Robins thought they had the lead inside the opening ten minutes when Johnston fired home, only for the linesman to flag for offside.
This didn’t deter the hosts as after a sustained period of pressure, McRoberts gave the Robins the lead in the eighth minute when he cut inside on his man before unleashing a thunderbolt into the top corner of the net from 25-yards-out.
There was also a long stoppage in play after Sullivan collided with Greg Purvis when chasing down a pass to the former Team Northumbria shot-stopper, however, both were fine to continue for the rest of the game.
Hebburn seemed to be struggling and in the 29th minute they found themselves two goals down when Carr’s shot from the edge of the area fizzed across the face of goal and into the back of the net.
It took until the 36th minute before the Hornets registered any kind of real chance of the Robins goal when former Darlington striker Graeme Armstrong broke through the Shields defence and charged through on goal. His striker, however, was deflected narrowly wide by a recovering defender.
Then in the 42nd minute, that man Richardson was on hand to take a dangerous freekick for Hebburn from the edge of the box, however, Purvis was a match to his effort and made a comfortable save.
Just before the referee blew for half time, Robinson stepped up to send his dangerous freekick past the goalkeeper at his near post to give the Robins their third goal of the game.
The second half started much more brightly for Hebburn and in the 50th minute, Sullivan found himself completely unmarked inside the penalty area to head the ball past Robins shot-stopper Greg Purvis; giving the Hornets a lifeline in the process.
Hebburn were beginning to turn the screw now and only one minute later, Richardson once again tried his luck at the Shields goal, only to see his dangerous curving effort whistle narrowly wide of the upright.
Whilst in search of their second goal of the game, the Hornets came within a whisker of doing just that in the 66th minute. After a deeply swung cross from Dan Groves, Armstrong flung himself at the ball in the hope of making a touch, however, his attempt was just too late as the ball skipped behind for a goal kick.
Hebburn were now throwing everything they had at the Shields goal and after making a number of attacking substitutes, they should have really pulled another goal back in the 80th minute. Following an outstanding close-range save from Purvis, a Hebburn attacker found himself with the ball on the edge of the six-yard box, only to sky his effort well over the crossbar when it would have been easier to score.
However, in the 85th minute, the hosts made certain of all three points when some excellent build up play between Spooner and Jack Donnison released the former Newcastle United midfielder through on goal before he sent his low shot past Hornets keeper Steve Hubery.
Final Score: North Shields 4 Hebburn Town 1
Referee: Christopher Ellis
Attendance: 253
North Shields Starting Eleven: Greg Purvis, Jack Donnison, Craig Spooner, Gary Ormston, Mark McManus, Kevin Hughes ©, Sean McRoberts, Adam Forster, Callum Johnston (Lewis McGeoch 67), Ryan Carr (Finlay Hayhurst 89), Paul Robinson (Cam Cunningham 81)
Yellow Cards: Craig Spooner, Ryan Carr, Kevin Hughes, Jack Donnison
Unused Substitutes: Curtis Coppen, David Hall
Hebburn Town Starting Eleven: Steve Hubery, Dan Groves, Scott Wallace (Sam Read 78), Rob Spence, Aron Burn, Jack Donaghy, Michael Richardson, Dan Smith (Jack Rob
son 55), Graeme Armstrong ©, Luke Sullivan, Ben Dibb-Fuller
Yellow Cards: Rob Spence, Graeme Armstrong, Scott Wallace, Michael Richardson
Unused Substitutes: Lee Kerr, Sam Taylor
