Shields keep title bid alive by seeing off dogged Guisborough
TITLE-CHASING North Shields rounded off their home fixtures for the season with a hard-earned win against a dogged Guisborough Town.
There was little action of note by the time the midway point of the first half passed – but that all changed on 27 minutes when the Robins took the lead.
It was the hard work and persistence of Brad Hird that created the first opportunity of the game as he burst into the area and gave Dan Wilson a chance he could not miss.
Guisborough got themselves back on level terms on the halfhour mark as a long ball forward released Cole Kiernan on goal and the former Sunderland and Middlesbrough youngster lifted the ball over Robins keeper Olly Marshall and into the empty net.
A hectic period of play continued three minutes later as the hosts restored their advantage with a stunning goal from Chris Mcdonald.
The full-back broke forward and collected a pass 25 yards from goal before cutting inside two challenges and crashing a stunning long-rage effort beyond Priorymen keeper Rob Dean.
But Guisborough would lie down and they ensured the game was level at half time when striker Louis Johnson was found in yards of space on the edge of the Robins and expertly stroked the ball past Marshall before taking the acclaim of his team-mates.
North Shields emerged for the second half determined to restore their advantage and they looked the more likely of the two sides to grab the next goal as the hour mark approached.
Only a fine reaction save from Robert Dean kept the scores level as he tipped an angled drive from Regan Paterson over the crossbar.
But that would be a temporary reprieve for the visitors as the unmarked Tom Bexton powered a header beyond the Priorymen number one from the resulting corner to pick the perfect time to grab his first goal for the club.
The folks on the bank at the Daren Persson Stadium were celebrating once again moments later as their side carved open the visitors’ defence once again moments later.
An incisive move involving Wilson and Cunningham allowed the latter to slide a pass to Hird, who made no mistake with a neat finish from close range.
That seemed to knock the stuffing out of Guisborough – although it was the visitors that had the final chance of the game as the lively Johnson fired wide in the closing stages.
The story of the final moments of the game was provided from elsewhere as the Robins faithful roared with delight at news of title rivals Consett’s defeat at Penrith.
They were cheering once again as the full-time whistle was blown to signal North Shields’ own title bid had received a double boost.
NORTH SHIELDS: Marshall, Walker, Mcdonald, Ormston, Myers, Bexton, Forster, Cunningham (Smith), Wilson, Hird (Turner), Paterson (Patton) Subs: Milburn, Walker
GUISBOROUGH TOWN: Dean, Jackson, Webster (Hillerby), Ridley, Hood, Risborough, Bartliff, Mohammed, Johnson, Kiernan (Blackburn), Wright-simpson Subs: Wheeler, Bean, Cowey