Ryan Carr’s injury-time winner clinched North Shields their first Northumberland Senior Cup in 25 years after they edged out Blyth Spartans at St. James’ Park.
Gary Ormston broke the deadlock after 11 minutes, but the Spartans turned the game around after a dominant period, finding the net through an own-goal and Sean Reid.
A resilient Robins came out after half-time and took the game to their opponents, and their man for the big occasion, Gareth Bainbridge, netted two in seven minutes.
Neal Hooks levelled the game on 75 minutes, but Carr popped up deep into injury-time, curling past the keeper, to seal an emphatic win on a remarkable evening.
Robins strike early in the game
The Spartans were aiming to keep hold of the trophy they won last season, however, it was the Robins who began the game on top.
Bainbridge broke into the Spartans area, but Carr couldn’t quite get a toe on the ball, however, Blyth went even closer moments later.
Robbie Dale cut inside, and after evading a tackle, his shot smashed off the crossbar, but the Robins did go on to break the deadlock just two minutes later.
Ormston latched onto Carr’s cross to the edge of the box, and had enough time to pick his spot, and he did exactly that, curling into the far corner.
Spartans turn game around
There was almost an instant response for Blyth, but Reid dragged his shot across the goal and wide, but Tom Wade’s men started to get on top in the game.
It wasn’t until the half-hour mark that the Spartans managed to convert one of their many chances as they found an equaliser through an unlikely source.
Dale swung in an excellent free-kick from the byline, which found the head of Matthew Wade, whose header down went into the net off an opposing player.
Blyth’s dominance continued and it was on 38 minutes that they went ahead in the game, after some brilliant play on the edge of the area.
Dale received the ball and immediately laid it off to Reid, whose first time effort sailed past Chris Bannon and into the bottom corner.
The Spartans could have gone three-up two minutes later, a beautiful cross evaded the keeper, but Dan Maguire couldn’t get the ball out from under his feet.
Bainbridge steals the show after half-time
Graham Fenton’s men closed out the half on top, after Lee Mason's effort found the roof of Adam McHugh's goal, but they reacted well after the break and equalised within five minutes.
Jordan Summerly was broke down the flank and played the ball across the face of goal to Bainbridge, who simply tapped the ball home from close range.
It was a free-flowing move from the Robins that saw them draw level, but their third moments later was far from that, and the goal left the 2,421 fans in attendance speechless.
Bainbridge collected a long ball over the top on his chest, before lobbing the oncoming keeper from 25-yards out.
Blyth level the game through substitute Hooks
The game started to level out, with the Northern League side more than holding their own, and both sides were creating chances freely.
However, Blyth found themselves level with 15 minutes to go in the game when Dale turned provider once more, this time for Hooks, who fired home into the top corner.
You wouldn’t have wanted to be in either manager’s shoes in the dying stages, end-to-end action saw both the Spartans and the Robins almost go ahead.
Jubilent scenes as Carr curls home
The final was heading for extra-time, two-and-a-half additional minutes had passed when Shields produced a team goal that wouldn’t have looked out of place in Europe’s top leagues.
Some great play saw Summerly burst through the defence once more, he laid the ball off to Carr, who opened his body and found the very top-corner, and the away dugout burst into celebration.
That was met by that of the North Shields supporters in the East Stand as they went on to lift their third trophy in as many seasons under Fenton.
The Robins negotiated the remaining minutes before the final whistle went, and there was jubilation among players, staff and fans on a historic night for North Shields at the home of Newcastle United.