North Shields FC were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw by Blyth Town under the lights at the Daren Persson Stadium, despite dominating possession and creating more than enough chances to take all three points.
The Robins started brightly and dominated the opening ten minutes, winning multiple corners and having plenty of chances early on. In the eighth minute, Dan Wilson saw his effort saved low by the Blyth goalkeeper. Soon after, a corner swung in by Jordan Lashley found Lee Mason, whose volley forced another smart stop from the visiting keeper. Moments later, Nelson Ogbewe headed over from another Lashley delivery.
Shields continued to push forward. In the 15th minute, Lewis Suddick sent in a cross that was scrambled away for a throw-in. Lashley then saw a 24th-minute strike blocked to win another corner, before Suddick put another great ball across the face of goal five minutes later with nobody there to meet it.
Shields’ best chance of the half arrived in the 35th minute. Blair Adams made a great run from the left side of the box and combined brilliantly with Tom Bexton with a one-two before striking the ball straight at the keeper, who could only parry it back out to Lee Mason, but he hit the follow-up wide.
Despite the home dominance, Blyth Town nearly punished Shields for their missed chances. Just five minutes before the break, a cross from Owen Mitchell found Sean Reid just yards out, but Shields goalkeeper Callum Elliott produced an excellent save to deny the header. Right before half-time, Lashley whipped in another great ball that found Wilson, whose header went just over, hitting the top of the netting to send the sides in level.
The second half followed a similar pattern. In the 51st minute, great link-up play between Adams and Wilson won the Robins a throw-in. Moments later, Suddick put in another great ball after receiving it from the overlap, but Wilson was just behind the ball. Shields continued to apply the pressure, as just moments later, Lee Mason’s shot from outside the box was just wide of the bottom right corner. Two minutes later, Mason found Lashley’s deflected effort, but he blazed his shot over the bar. Just a minute after that, Ogbewe showed great feet to beat his man but his effort towards goal was blocked.
As the clock ticked down, manager Brian Smith turned to the bench, introducing Stephen Hall for Dan Wilson in the 71st minute. The substitute almost made an instant impact in the 74th minute when a blocked Lashley effort fell to Hall who struggled to connect and fell over in the act. Just two minutes later, Adams played Hall through, who tried to play one more pass but it was cut out by the Blyth defence.
Hall had heavy involvement again in the 78th minute, when his great link up play with captain Adam Forster found Forster close to goal but he was unable to get an effort at goal. At the other end, Stephen Turnbull did an excellent job in the 81st minute to win a tough battle with Blyth’s top scorer Bailey Adamson, helping to keep him quiet.
Ogbewe then drove forward with pace in the 85th minute to find Adams on the right, but the linesman deemed him offside. Soon after, Stephen Turnbull put in a great ball, which found Hall, but his headed effort was just wide.
The final minutes brought late drama at both ends. In the 91st minute, a Blyth corner reached Alfie Marriott at the back post, but he fired over. Two minutes later, Marriott fouled Ogbewe to win Shields a free-kick in a great position. With what was virtually the last kick of the match, Hall met the cross but saw his header go inches wide of the post.
The Robins now have just over a week to prepare before returning to the Daren Persson Stadium on Saturday 24th October, when they welcome Thornaby FC to Silkey’s Lane for a 3:00pm kick-off. Brian Smith’s side will look to turn these dominant performances into three points.
Match Facts:
Competition: Ebac Northern League Division One
Venue: Daren Persson Stadium
Full Time Score: North Shields FC 0-0 Blyth Town FC
Sponsors:
Matchball Sponsor: Alison and Hall Financial Advisors
Matchday Sponsor: Danny’s Travel
Advanced Garage Doors Man of The Match: Jordan Lashley
By: Flynn Croucher
