After defeat on the road in Teeside, the Robins return to the Daren Persson Stadium under the lights for another fixture in the EBAC Northern League Division One.
This time, we face Penrith.
The Bonnyblues have started the season with mixed results. After three losses in a row, Penrith clinched a good win against our last opponents, Yarm and Eaglescliffe.
After that, they exited the FA Cup with a 2-1 defeat at home to Bridlington Town, but after the Cumbrian outfit lost away to Easington Colliery, two goals from danger man Jordan Palmer saw Penrith beat last year’s third place finishers Whitley Bay.
Palmer’s opener will easily be considered for goal of the season; a long range free kick that thundered into the top right corner. It was so far back, there was not even a wall!
A second loss of the season against Blyth Town (and a 9-0 aggregate score), and that takes us to this week. Brian Smith’s men are next on their agenda and it looks to be a closely matched affair.
Penrith finished 12th in last year’s Division One table, their highest position ever and it was some achievement, especially losing their star striker DJ Taylor midseason to AFC Fylde.
They managed to keep goals in the side through Connor Shields and Jordan Palmer, and they have managed to keep a hold of them both for this season.
Last season, Shields won the head to head, winning the home match 2-1, and the other ending in a four-goal stalemate. This fixture screams goals, and it’s likely we’ll see them again.
It has not been smooth sailing for the Robins this season. After a draw on opening day and two consecutive wins, Brian Smith’s men have been knocked out of the FA Cup, and are on a four match losing streak.
Attacking output seems to be on a downwards spiral. Shields scored seven goals in their first three matches. However since we got knocked out of the FA Cup our clinical edge has been temporarily nullified.
Four goals in five games, and the results have suffered for it.
The Robins have failed to keep a fixed starting 11, due to commitments, injuries, and all of the trials and tribulations that come with Northern League football.
Often times Lewis Suddick and Evan Blaney have been filling in in midfield due to key absences, such as Ben Sampson and captain Adam Forster, both of whom have returned to the team as of now.
Both teams have had a less than ideal season up till now, and as summer comes to an end, both outfits hope that their woes will too. It’s shaping up to be a high-octane end to end match, and we at North Shields FC urge you to come along and support the lads.
Thank you all for your amazing support and…
HOWAY THE ROBINS!
MATCH DETAILS:
North Shields FC vs Penrith AFC
EBAC Northern League Division One – MW8
Wednesday 26th August
7:30pm Kick Off
Daren Persson Stadium, Silkey’s Lane, North Shields, NE29 0SS
Concessions £8/£5/£2
