North Shields FC progressed into the FA Vase third round with a comeback draw that saw the game go to penalties, which they won 4-3.
Shields could’ve been two goals to the good in the first ten minutes. Just three minutes in, Jordan Lashley went close with an effort from distance that flashed just wide of the left post. Four minutes later, Reece Wanless found himself clean through on goal and 1v1 with the goalkeeper, but an outstretched leg prevented the opener.
The game then went rather quiet, with both teams struggling to keep possession and string successive passes together.
The next real chance of the game was for the Robins. In the 36th minute, Dan Wilson played a composed pass to send Nelson Ogbewe through, but with just the keeper to beat, his shot was matched by a great save from Brigg’s Liam Higton.
Brigg had the last chance of the half in the one and only minute of added time. Their corner was skewed off the head of Charlie Flemming, before some brilliant defensive work from Lashley, who tracked the follow-up and won Shields a goal kick.
Half Time: North Shields 0-0 Brigg Town
Shields started the second half excellently. Within a minute of play resuming, Reece Wanless’ shot on the half-volley forced a low save from the Brigg keeper.
Brigg then proved how quickly a game can turn. Just three minutes after Shields’ bright start, a corner routine straight from the training ground saw a neat one-two play open up space for a cross, with the delivery stormed in by the head of Brigg captain Josh Jordan. Brigg quickly found themselves two up, as in the 52nd minute Reece York received the ball after a quick one-two and crossed the ball from the left flank to Josh Batty, who stabbed it in at the near post.
Shields went close to finding a response. In the 59th minute, a great run down the left channel by Ogbewe saw him cross the ball to the back post, where Lashley headed it back across into the centre. It fell into the path of Wilson, who attempted a bicycle kick only to see his effort blocked, With the ball still alive, Wilson tried to scramble it in with his feet from the floor but could not, and it was eventually cleared away.
With 20 minutes to go, Shields continued to look for their opener.
Shields then kept the cup fixture alive. In the 74th minute, a precise ball played in by Lewis Suddick was met by the head of Wilson, whose effort flew into the net at the near post.
Shields completed their fightback from the spot. In the 88th minute, Wilson did excellently to win a penalty as Oakley Hill took him down and was carded for the tackle. Lashley stepped up to the spot and dispatched his penalty into the bottom-left corner.
With a tense six additional minutes, neither team could find a winner, which sent the tie to penalties.
Full Time: North Shields 2-2 Brigg Town
The game was then decided from the spot. With the penalties being taken at the Shields end, the atmosphere became tense. Brigg opened the shootout with a converted penalty and nearly had an early advantage as their keeper saved Suddick’s initial effort. However, the referee caught the goalkeeper off his line, forcing a retake which Suddick made no mistake of.
Brigg continued their perfect conversion rate before Lashley, who had scored from the spot just minutes earlier in normal time, saw his penalty saved by the Brigg keeper, leaving the Robins trailing after four spot-kicks.
Callum Elliott then stepped up to the occasion, saving Brigg’s third penalty, and Blair Adams coolly converted for the Robins to put the scores level. The next two pens from Brigg’s York and Shields’ Lee Mason were both professionally converted, keeping the score level going into the decisive fifth round of pens.
Brigg goalkeeper Higton then decided to step up to take the visitors’ fifth penalty, but his effort struck the crossbar and went out. With the game on his shoulders, bagsman Nelson Ogbewe stepped up for Shields and placed his effort too far into the corner for the keeper to reach, sending the Robins through to the next round of the FA Vase.
Full Time: North Shields 2-2 Brigg Town (4-3 Pens)
After such a tense ending, Shields’ focus now returns to the league, when they host Redcar Town on Wednesday night at the Daren Persson Stadium.
Match Facts:
Competition: Isuzu FA Vase
Venue: Daren Persson Stadium
Full Time Score: North Shields FC 2-2 Brigg Town CIC FC (4-3 Pens)
North Shields Scorers: Dan Wilson (74’), Jordan Lashley (89’) (Pen)
Brigg Town CIC Scorers: Josh Jordan (49’), Josh Batty (52’)
Sponsors:
Matchball Sponsor: Hearns Halloween
Matchday Sponsor: The Engine Room- North Shields
Advanced Garage Doors Man of The Match: Jordan Lashley
