Robins’ search for first points

Aug 31 2007 Evening Chronicle

WHILE most sides in the Arngrove Northern League will be playing for glory in the FA Cup tomorrow, North Shields’ objective is to take three points from improving Prudhoe Town at Ralph Gardner Park.

It is a long time since the Robins were pointless after three matches, but they are second-bottom in Division Two, only ahead of Brandon United because of a better goal difference.

“You could say we haven’t made a very good start but there were signs of improvement on Monday, even though we lost to Horden CW by the only goal,” said secretary David Thompson.

“If there had been any justice we would have taken a point, but that’s the way it goes, and we’ll have to pick ourselves up tomorrow since Prudhoe took four points out of six last weekend.”

Player-coach Ian Davison and Tony Colquhoun, who both left the Robins for Prudhoe midway through last season, are back at Ralph Gardner Park, but Nicky Evans has moved in the opposite direction.

He captained the side that won the Wearside League title but could line up against his former colleagues tomorrow.

Although Eddie Miller is out following an injury picked up in last Saturday’s game with South Shields, Stuart Heppell and David Hiftle have regained fitness.

“We missed them on Monday so it will be a boost to have them available,” said Thompson. “It might be early in the season but we cannot afford to lose to Prudhoe.”