Marc Nash’s men inflicted Pontefract Collieries first home defeat of the season courtesy of goals from Brad Hird and Regan Paterson.
With three changes from last week’s 0-0 draw at home to Brighouse the Robins found themselves involved in a competitive contest which saw both teams give everything over the 90 minutes.
The hosts were the first to work out a chance, when Adam Priestley headed over.
Brad Hird carved out the first chance for the Robins, when David Palmer played him in over the top before driving an effort straight at Patrick Boyes.
A quick break by the Robins was disrupted by the officials offside flag.
At the other end, the hosts failed to capitalize on the Robins failing to clear their lines, firing an effort wide from outside the area.
Liam Doyle picked up a yellow card in vain of trying to prevent a Collieries attack.
The game remained open with both teams trying to carve out opportunities at both ends.
A long throw was flicked on to Brad Hird who spun and shot only for it to be too tame for Boyes.
Cam Cunningham played through Hird but the pass was just too far beyond Hird to get there before Boyes.
Pontefract continued to apply pressure throughout the half with a number of long throws into the box, which the Robins defensive wall did well to deal with.
GOAL 1-0 31’ Brad Hird.
Jack Walker floated a free kick upto the back post, where Anth Myers met to head back across goal to Dan Wilson, who picked out Hird, who spun fired into the top corner to send the faithful Robins traveling support into raptures.
Things heated up with a number of feisty tackles in the middle of the park by both teams as they looked to get a foothold on the game.
Brad Hird almost bagged his second of the afternoon, breaking through the defensive line and beating them for pace, who flashed an effort across goal just wide of the mark.
At the other end, the Robins kept it tight at the back working well as a unit to deal with the Colls’ long ball and long throw game.
The first half came to a close, the Robins in the driving seat of what was a competitive first half with both teams putting everything on the line.
The Robins started the second half immediately on the attack through David Robinson, after Doyle picked out Wilson only to be denied the officials offside flag.
JJ Chrisp picked out Paul Van Zandvliet with a cross field pass who played through to Wilson but was slightly over hit.
Pontefract were awarded a free kick and Van Zandvliet found himself in the book harshly for trying to win the ball back despite the Pontefract player appearing to be laid upon the ball.
Liam Doyle was replaced by Stephen Forster early in the second half.
Adam Priestly for the hosts missed a glorious opportunity to draw level, blazing well over from inside the area.
Cam Cunningham was replaced by Regan Paterson, after a professional foul in the middle of the park to stop a Robins counter.
David Palmer was booked for a challenge to win back possession for the Robins, only to be marginally late with the tackle.
The hosts continued with a barrage of the long balls and long throws only to be squashed but were unable to find a way past the dependable Anth Myers and Jack Walker at the heart of the Robins defence.
Antonio Agonstinho replaced Dan Wilson with 20 minutes left on the clock, after a battling performance up front.
Agostinho almost made an instant impact driving down the right hand side and into the penalty, where he attempted to square the ball to Robinson only for it to be intercepted.
The hosts were becoming more frantic in their search for an equalizer, throwing everything they had as the Robins defended well with every player in a red shirt putting in a shift to ensure they didn’t find a way through.
Jack Shepherd was booked for a poor challenge as the Robins broke on the counter through Paterson as more and more gaps were appearing for the Robins to try and capitalize on.
Agostinho broke through for a second time, again driving his way into the penalty area, only to be denied at the crucial point of letting off a shot.
More and more space was becoming available for the Robins to break into and Hird almost settled it late, beating his man for pace and driving towards goal before striking an effort just the wrong side of the far post.
GOAL ‘90+ 2-0, Regan Paterson
Game. Set. Match.
As the officials indicated 4 minutes of additional time the Robins hit the Colls’ on the counter with Paterson beating the offside trap and driving towards goal before firing into the top corner beyond Boyes to ensure that the points came back up the A19 to NE29.
The Robins traveling support were in full voice to ensure that the Robins were able to see out the final moments and cap off a magnificent performance against a dogged opposition.
North Shields: Hodgson, Doyle (Forster), Chrisp, Palmer, Myers, Walker, Van Zandvliet, Cunningham (Paterson), Wilson (Agostinho), Robinson, Hird
Subs not used: Turner, McDonald
Next game up for the Robins is at home as they host Grimsby Borough at the Daren Persson Stadium with a 3pm kick off.
