Robins through with hard-earned Boro win

NORTH Shields got their season off to a winning start as they set up a preliminary round home tie against Seaham Red Star with a hard-earned home win against Knaresborough Town.

The Robins were in complete control by the midway point of the first-half as Paul Van-zandvliet and Brad Hird found the net.

Danny Edwards set home pulses racing when he got the visitors back into the game on 77 minutes but North Shields held on to secure their place in the next round.

Fellow Northern Premier League newcomers Consett were dumped out of the competition with a 4-1 defeat at Goole.

Kieran Aplin marked his competitive Steelmen debut with a goal but that was the high point on an otherwise dismal day at the Victoria Pleasure Grounds.

Tow Law Town earned another crack at Northern Premier League East division side Tadcaster Albion despite playing for hour and a Mal Morien penalty was the sum token of Whitley’s comeback just two minutes later.

West Allotment Celtic enjoyed a fine away day in Cumbria as first-half goals from Michael Baxter and Mechak Kanda gave them a 2-0 win a Penrith and a Louis Anderson strike was the difference between Heaton Stannington and Pickering Town at Grounsell Park.

A second-half effort from Ciaran Banks gave Bishop Auckland a 1-0 win at Guisborough Town and Liam Mcnamara and Ryan Mcgorrigan netted in Newcastle Benfield’s 2-0 win against Crook Town. James Ellis’ early goal was not enough for West Auckland Town as Carlisle City claimed a 2-1 win at the Wanted Stadium thanks to a goal in each half from Sam Atkinson and Josh Simpson.

Thronaby and Northallerton Town fell at the first hurdle as they suffered respective defeats against Kendal Town and North Ferriby.