North Shields FC were blown away by Thornaby on a wet and windy afternoon at the Daren Persson Stadium, in which the match finished 6-2 to the visitors.
North Shields almost got off to the perfect start, as in the ninth minute, Lewis Suddick made a great run down the right-hand side, then played a ball across the face of goal met by Stephen Hall, who tapped it home for The Robins. However, the linesman ruled Suddick offside, keeping the game all square in the opening exchanges.
Shields continued to create chances in the early stages of the game, but struggled to coordinate their runs with the release of the ball. This timing issue was again illustrated when Suddick played a pinpoint ball up to Hall, who would’ve been 1 on 1 with the goalkeeper, but the linesman’s flag was already up to halt the attack.
Shields were made to pay for their wasted opportunities in the 24th minute. Thornaby’s Joe Pickett played a through-ball forward to Kurtis Howes, who was clean through on goal and made no mistake with his finish into the bottom-left corner, putting the visitors ahead.
Despite this, Shields responded almost immediately as they went straight down the other end. A bouncing ball across the six-yard box was missed by both a Thornaby defender and Hall, falling all the way to Suddick whose blocked attempt at goal was deemed as a goal kick.
Shields’ best chance of the half came in the 35th minute, as a ball from the left flank found its way to Reece Wanless at the back post. The midfielder had a free header, but couldn’t direct his effort on target.
Thornaby then punished Shields just minutes later with a quick succession of play which saw them score two goals in two minutes, with the first arriving in the 38th minute. This ambitious long-range effort from Shields’ side of the centre circle by Thornaby’s Kieron Parnaby caught out Callum Elliott, who fell onto his back while backtracking the ball over him and into the net. Thornaby’s third of the afternoon arrived just sixty seconds later, as new arrival Jayden Gray sat down two Shields defenders. His shot then deflected off Robins’ defender James Sloan to end up in the bottom left corner.
Shields did manage to pull one back before half-time, as a quick break saw Hall volley the ball into the back of the net from a lofted ball from new captain Lee Mason, who took the armband as a result of Adam Forster’s early departure.
HALF-TIME: North Shields 1-3 Thornaby
North Shields started the second half similarly to the first, with a throw-in from Euan Anderson guided to the back post by Hall, where Suddick struck the ball first time, but his effort was just over the crossbar.
In similar fashion, Thornaby saw an effort in the 61st minute crash off the crossbar.
Thornaby showed their sharpness in the final 15 minutes, as they made a free-kick routine look easy in the 76th minute. A short pass found Spencer Walker, who shielded the ball before he sent through Pickett whose shot found the back of the net, with Elliott getting a touch on it but it proved not enough to keep it out.
Similarly to the first half, Thornaby clicked to find a quick double late in the second half. In the 83rd minute, a quick attack saw Walker pick out Gray, who with his first touch found the bottom corner for his second of the afternoon.
Just 3 minutes later, Howes’ ball from the far left side of the box was unchallenged by the North Shields defence and fell to Walker, who slotted it into the back of the net to make it 6-1.
There was still time for a late Shields consolation just before full-time, as Blair Adams scored a freak goal that swept into the back of the net with help from the wind to make the final score 6-2.
FULL-TIME: North Shields 2-6 Thornaby
Shields now have a full week to recover until their next game, when they begin their Isuzu FA Vase campaign in a Second Round Proper fixture, welcoming Brigg Town CIC to the Daren Persson Stadium.
Match Facts:
Competition: Ebac Northern League Division One
Venue: Daren Persson Stadium
Full Time Score: North Shields FC 2-6 Thornaby FC
North Shields Scorers: Stephen Hall (45+1’), Blair Adams (90’
Thornaby Scorers: Kurtis Howes (24’), Kieron Parnaby (38’), Jayden Gray (39’) (83’), Joe Pickett (76’), Spencer Walker (86’)
Sponsors:
Matchball Sponsor: The Exchange
Matchday Sponsor: BJDL – HV Specialists
Advanced Garage Doors Man of The Match: Lewis Suddick
