North Shields were seven matches unbeaten in the run up to this afternoon’s match, after achieving the feat of six wins in a row.
They were looking to add a seventh to the tally, while Easington Colliery assumed first place in midweek after a win over promotion rivals Bishop Auckland, and were hoping to protect the position at the top of the EBAC Northern League Division One.
Stephen Turnbull returned to the squad this week, taking a spot on the North Shields bench, while Lewis Suddick returned to the starting lineup in place of Blair Adams.
Ben Sampson returned his his much more familiar midfield position, and Reece Wanless dropped into left back to cover Adams’ position.
Easington made one change to their starting lineup. Liam Cooke was unavailable, which meant Daniel Maw was rewarded with a start for his strike against Bishops last wednesday.
Story of the match:
North Shields were on top for the first half hour, but the ball mainly stayed in the middle of the park.
There were not any concrete chances for either side, and it was by admittance a poor watch.
However, in the 37th minute, the match was blown wide open, courtesy of Nelson Ogbewe.
Reece Wanless won the ball high up the pitch from Easington number two Dominic Agnew, and it started a lightning-fast Robins counter attack.
Wanless Played through Daniel Wilson, and Wilson cleverly opted to help the ball further across the box to the unmarked Nelson Ogbewe.
Ogbewe slotted the ball into the bottom left corner, and Shields’ top goal scorer registered his tenth of the season.
All looked to be well for North Shields, however a lapse in concentration threrw the match away before half time.
Daniel Maw rewarded his manager for bringing him in for a start by completely flipping the tie on its head before the half time whistle.
Against the run of play, as a result of what Robins manager Brian Smith chalked down to “individual mistakes”, Maw found himself a goal in the 41st minute with a eye-catching curler into the top left corner.
Then just three minutes later, the number 10 found himself on the end of a deflected cross at the near post, and made sure that the ball stayed hit, as it sailed past Callum Elliot to put Easington ahead on the stroke of half time.
Just like that, the Robins were chasing the game, despite being the better of the two sides.
Hitting Top Gear!
In most circumstances, this kind of double whammy would provide a huge knock to the confidence of many players.
However, North Shields remained resolute and focused, which is a testament to the character shown by the players to pick themselves up at half time and keep pushing forward.
It would take four minutes for Shields to equalise, and it was that man again; Nelson Ogbewe.
He has been on fire this season, and he has paid back the trust put in him tenfold.
Dan Wilson did what he does best and took down a long ball from Lewis Suddick. Wilson knocked the ball down to Jordan Lashley, who opted to go inside.
He spotted Ogbewe darting in behind from the left wing, and one pinpoint through ball later, Ogbewe was one on one with the goalkeeper.
Ogbewe slid the ball under the keeper, and the Robins were level.
For the next 20 minutes, it seemed like Easington were finally getting to grips with the game, and were starting to mount some coordinated attacks.
They looked more likely to get a third, and they came agonisingly close, not once, but twice.
In the 67th minute, Easington number six Ethan Ord got onto the end of a loose ball on the Robins’ penalty spot, but somehow, the shot ricocheted off of Callum Elliot and off of the crossbar.
Unfortunately Elliot’s save of the season was for naught, as it was judged that Ord received the ball in an offside position.
Three minutes later, Easington did put the ball in the back of the net.
Subtitute Brad Hird took advantage of a spilled shot, and poked the ball home for what Easington thought would be 3-2.
But, the referee judged that Elliot was fouled by Hird, and consequently the goal was disallowed.
The score would become 3-2 in the 74th minute, but this time it was for North Shields, and it counted too.
Ogbewe was hunting for his hat-trick, and he had a chance to put the ball in the back of the net, but flashed the ball wide.
Shields managed to recycle the ball out wide to Euan Anderson, who crossed the ball to Dan Wilson.
Wilson’s header lobbed the goalkeeper, and all of a sudden the Robins had the advantage once more.
Easington should have equalised in the 87th minute, and how they did not score must be agonising to them.
After Callum Elliot made a good save at his near post, the ball scrambled into the six yard box.
Ryan Taylor was the man to get on the end of it, but the green number five somehow sent the ball flying over the bar from point blank range!
If that had of went in, one would assume that the points would be shared, but the Robins flew up the other end and put the nail in the coffin.
Veteran sub Lee Mason sent through captain Adam Forster, who took his time and showed great composure to force the keeper into a move.
The keeper feinted, and Forster went around the chasing keeper to hammer home for 4-2, sealing the Robins seventh win in a row.
What This Means:
North Shields are now unbeaten in seven matches, and have recorded six consecutive wins in all competitions.
Brian Smith’s side are on red hot form, and they are full of momentum coming into the Christmas period.
It is hard to tell who can stop them at the moment, and a short away trip to Whickham as our midweek match is a favourable one for the Robins to make another statement.
Shields are up to fourth, and for now they are cemented in the playoff places after putting the rest of the league on notice.
As for Easington Colliery, this result will be a blip on their radar in the grand scheme of things.
But, it is one of those results when looked back in hindsight, may have been more important to the blooming title race than meets the eye.
They are back down to second, leapfrogged by Bishop Auckland so soon after their victory over Bishops catapulted the rejuvenated Easington team into first place.
