It was not a routine day at the office for the Robins last night, as they had their wings clipped by Birtley Town, losing matchweek nine in the EBAC Northern League Division One by six goals to three.
Shields got off to a flying start, when a mistimed header from Birtley Town centre back Kyle Wharton sent Nelson Ogbewe through on goal.
He dummied the ball, letting it roll past goalkeeper Gordon and went around him to tap home for 1-0.
Birtley would get their equaliser in the 19th minute through Charlie Aitken, who plucked the ball out of the air under pressure inside the box and produced an unorthodox scissor kick to beat Callum Elliot.
The Robins went back in front 10 minutes later, when Reece Wanless picked the ball up in the middle of the park. He picked out Ogbewe on the left hand side, and Nelson raced to the byline to fizz in a low cross to the six-yard box. Stephen Hall got on the end of it, and glanced the ball into the far corner.
But Birtley responded again in the 33rd minute. James Proctor picked the ball up 30 yards from goal, and was given all the time in the world to have a dig at goal. The ball bounced just in front of Callum Elliot, and bobbles into the bottom corner for 2-2.
Birtley pulled ahead three minutes later, seeing a lead for the first time in the game. A cross was lifted into the box towards the penalty spot. Former Robin Regan Paterson rose highest and headed the ball towards the far right corner. The header lobbed Callum Elliot and this is where the games stared to get away from Brian Smith’s men.
Birtley did not stop there, as two minutes after that, they piled on another goal to the misery of Brian Smith. Matthew Ward picked up the ball 30 yards out, in a similar position to Proctor. He also had a dig at goal after being given time on the ball, except this one flew into the top corner.
One scorching team talk from Smith later, the teams come out for the second half… only for Birtley to score immediately after kick off.
Dale Burrell scored with his first touch of the game, and Shields were well and truly out of the game from then on.
Playing two matches in 48 hours are never ideal for any team, and it showed heavily last night. The players were a yard off, and never really looked like mounting a comeback.
Charlie Aitken added a sixth for the hosts just after the hour mark, taking the ball through on goal and finishing with confidence.
We did get one back, however. Three minutes after Aitken’s second of the game, Lee Mason picked the pocket of the Birtley left back, before squaring the ball to Jordan Lashley. He took on his man before reversing the ball back inside the near post.
Both teams were pretty happy to take their foot off the gas, and the match ended with the ball mostly in the middle of the park, already looking for excuses and the next match away to Carlisle City.
