Cunningham hits brace while sub keeper stars

NORTH SHIELDS SEAHAM RED STAR

Cup football can bring up these little

scenarios and he’s come off the bench and probably won the game for us Marc Nash salutes

Callum Elliott

A CAMERON Cunningham brace for North Shields saw off a spirited Seaham Red Star in the FA Cup preliminary round.

The Robins first struck close from range in the 45th minute before Cunningham followed up on the cusp of full-time, slotting coolly past keeper Andrew Jenson.

But the worsening weather conditions intermittently dampened the quality of chances either side produced.

But the first real chance for North Shields came in the 12th minute when Cunningham set up talisman Dan Wilson, who nodded the ball off the crossbar.

Brad Hird made himself known to Jenson, meanwhile, with follow-ups in the 24th and 33rd minute denied.

But the real moment of quality came on the brink of half-time, when, following a tight scramble in the box, Cunningham gave the home crowd of 304 something to cheer about.

North Shields carried on in the second half with quiet confidence, at times withholding Seaham’s increasingly urgent display.

Even an injury to North Shields goalkeeper, Finlay Hodgson, in the 52nd minute did not derail the home side as substitute Callum Elliott proved himself to be an excellent stand-in.

Thomas Bott headed the ball down in the 63rd minute in the six-yard box believing an equaliser could be found but Elliott reacted superbly and got a hand to it.

Moments later the same situation happened but at the opposite end as this time Wilson closed in for North Shields in the 65th minute but Jenson was alert and blocked the resulting effort.

Elliott prevented surefire attempts in the next 10 minutes from Bradley Chisholm and Mark Robinson earning himself some plaudits.

The defining moment in the second half, besides Cunningham’s winner, must be David Robinson’s red card in the 79th minute, following a booking just one minute earlier.

However, the game petered out while the rain picked up again, but not before Cunningham doubled the lead for the Robins in virtually the last kick of the match.

Robins manager, Marc Nash, told the club’s website: “Cup football is always about the result and conditions were really tough.

“Cup football can bring up these little scenarios (Elliott replacing Hodgson

and his performance) and he’s come off the bench and probably won the game for us.”

Next for North Shields is Tadcaster Albion at the Daren Persson Stadium on Wednesday night, while Seaham Red Star are up next against Bishop Auckland on Tuesday.

North Shields: Hodgson (Elliott), Doyle, Chrisp (Mcdonald), Oliver, Walker, Bexton, Robinson, Cunningham, Wilson, Hird, Paterson (Vanzandvliet). Subs not used: Myers, Palmer, Walker, Joisce.

Seaham Red Star: Jennison, Baggs (Dart), Sayer, Donnelly, Nelson, Bott, Lawson, Taylor (Pearn), Chisholm, Robinson, Hailes. Subs not used: Robinson, Lawson, Patton, Hailes.