Cunningham at the double as Robins run riot

Two goals from Cam Cunningham helped the Robins to a dominant 4-1 win against Guisborough Town at the rain-soaked KGV Ground.

Cunningham opened the scoring with a fine strike early in the first half, before Paul New’s header gave the Robins a 2-0 lead at the break.

A Mark Robinson penalty at the start of the second half gave Guisborough a fighting chance.

However, Kyle Patton’s effort, after the Guisborough midfielder Joe Ferguson was sent off, restored the Robins’ two-goal cushion.

And in added time, Cunningham weaved through the home defence to finish low and put the game beyond doubt.

Shields started on the front foot and in the third minute, a Nick Cassidy freekick from just outside the area whistled over the Guisborough crossbar.

Three minutes later, a spectacular save from Guisborough shot-stopper Ryan Catterick denied Cunningham, after the young midfielder’s volley looked destined for the back of the net.

In the 20th minute, Patton had a glorious chance to give the Robins the lead when he broke through on goal, however, after rounding Matthew Crust, his effort was cleared off the line by Guisborough captain Robinson.

However, after a botched clearance, Gary Ormston was given time to cross the ball to Cunningham, who smashed the ball into the back of the net on the volley.

The Robins doubled their lead five minutes before the break when a Cassidy corner met the head of Paul New, who ghosted in at the far post the nod the ball home.

Guisborough came out firing in the second half and after only six minutes, the referee awarded them a spot kick when he judged New to have brought down substitute Daniel Earl.

After a short delay, Robinson made no mistake in sending Skirpan the wrong way to give Guisborough a way back into the game.

The hosts chances of getting back into the game were dealt a blow in the 72nd minute when Joe Ferguson was shown a second yellow card for a late lunge on Ormston; much to the dismay of the Guisborough bench.

And in the 81st minute, the Robins made good use of their advantage. After McCarthy dispossessed Miller in the centre of the pitch, he released Cunningham through on goal before the winger unselfishly set up Patton, who finished calmly into an open net.

The prolific Robins struck once again in the 91st minute when clever through ball from Adam Forster found Cunningham, with the youngster weaving his way past three defenders before thumping the ball past Catterick to finish the game.

This result lifts North Shields to third in the Ebac Northern League Division One table, whilst Guisborough Town now sit in 11th place.