First half Patton double keeps Robins rolling in the League

A first half double from Kyle Patton helped North Shields to a closely-contested 2-1 win against Seaham Red Star.

Patton gave Shields an early advantage after six minutes; converting a Cam Cunningham cross from close range.

The in-form attacker doubled the lead not long after, when he reacted quickest to a deflected Nick Cassidy freekick.

Former Robin Dan Wilson pulled a goal back for Seaham at the start of the second half, with a lobbed finish under pressure.

But Shields were able to hold on for an important three points at the Ferguson Motor Repairs Stadium

The Robins started on the front foot and after only six minutes, Cunningham collected a Cassidy cross before centering the ball to Patton; leaving the attacker to beat the keeper with a close-range shot.

It took a while for the Star to settle into the game but in the 16th minute, Paul Gardiner’s ferocious drive took a wicked deflection to steer the ball behind for a corner.

Chances were few and far between but approaching the 31st minute, a deep cross from Jaden Cahill-Taylor got caught in the wind, almost catching Greg Purvis out at the far post before sailing behind for a goal kick.

But only one minute later, the visitors had a deserved second goal, after Patton reacted quickest to a deflected Cassidy freekick; leaving the former Bishop Auckland attacker with a simple finish.

Seaham reacted well to the latest setback, with Wilson muscling his way to the byline before his cross-goal pass was blazed over by Richard Coulson from inside the six-yard box.

At the start of the second half, after Paul New denied Seaham with a tremendous last-ditch tackle, the Star finally got on the score sheet when Wilson, under pressure from two defenders, manager to hook the ball over Purvis from the edge of the area.

The hosts were beginning to threaten a lot more going forwards, with Wilson’s shot from an angle flying into the side netting in the 61st minute.

Straight from a goal kick, Shields winger Cunningham fed Smith through on goal. After the former Dunston winger cut inside of Liam Gillesphey, Bannon blocked his goalbound shot before Scott Young could clear the ball to safety.

The Seaham defence was at sixes and sevens as only one minute later, Ormston’s perfectly weighted pass found Cassidy in space, with the right-back’s volley whistling narrowly over.

Wilson was proving to be a problem for the Shields defence and in the 68th minute, a header of his own, from a freekick on the right-hand side, forced Purvis into a fantastic save at his near post.

The Robins could have wrapped up the game with minutes remaining, when substitute Scott McCarthy found the ball at his feet in the penalty area, following a Cassidy corner.

Though his left-footed shot was charged down and blocked by Bannon, a poor clearance allowed Cassidy another chance to whip the ball into the area, with McCarthy vollying over from inside the penalty area.

After today’s result, the Robins remain in fifth place, whilst Seaham Red Star occupy 17th.