North Shields are finally back to winning ways, and it is just in time before the Robins fly the nest.
It is just as you read it, our next outing in the EBAC Northern League Division One is an away fixture down at Shildon, a town in County Durham famous for its Locomotion Museum, and the first ever train station!
What’s At Stake?
The fight for the playoff spots in Division One is starting to intensify, and since we’re in the official run up to Christmas, a team’s place in the league table is starting to become more of a predictable metric.
As it stands, both Shields and Shildon are in the playoff positions; the Robins in fifth, and the Railwaymen in third.
It is clear that both sides want more security of their positions in the table, and a huge three points today would make that so.
Shildon are pushing Easington Colliery for second place, while North Shields are in danger of dropping out of those positions.
The middle of the pack is becoming competitive in the Northern League, with many teams being within a point of each other.
The quality of the league is the best we have seen in recent years, and if you add the games in hand that some teams have (some have multiple); it points to chaos.
Railwaymen Rested?
In bizarre fashion, last Tuesday’s Division One match between Shildon and our arch-rivals Whitley Bay was postponed.
The Seahorses ‘claimed’ that there was a rampant outbreak of COVID-19 in the squad, and they did not have enough players to field an 11.
Whatever happened to the common cold?
But, that is besides the point. The Railwaymen have had more time to recover from their last match, and will have fresher legs.
I expect them to have more of the ball, and a strong defensive performance will be needed to shut them out
Late Drama:
North Shields won 1-0 at the Daren Persson Stadium on Wednesday night against Teesiders Redcar Town.
With 10 minutes left to go, it was assumed that this would turn out to be another one of those matchups when Shields would pepper the box for 85 minutes, without registering a shot on target.
However, in stoppage time, a near post header from Dan Wilson finally gave the Robins their reward.
It was a dominant performance with a couple of starting players missing, and the saying goes: “It doesn’t matter how you do it, a win is a win.”
Still finding that goal, after struggling all night, is a testament to the character of the players, and showed what they were willing to do to grind out the result.
Match Details:
Shildon AFC vs North Shields FC
Saturday 7th November 2026
3pm Kick Off
EBAC Northern League Division One
J Denham Metals Stadium, Dean Street, Shildon, County Durham, DL4 1EZ
