Whickham were beaten 3-1 on the opening day of the 2025/26 season after conceding two penalties inside the first 10 minutes.
The Lang Jacks found themselves 2-0 down in the opening stages, after Lee Mason converted both of his penalties.
Whickham fought back despite the score and Kyle Cockburn scored for the visitors in the 23rd minute but Jordan Lashley wrapped up all three points for the hosts in the 58th minute.
Lang Jacks manager Tony Fawcett named eight new signings in his starting XI, alongside the familiar faces of Callum Munro, Jordan Lavery and Sam Johnson.
The start of the season couldn’t have got off to a much worse start when Nathan Beesley gave away a penalty inside four minutes.
Mason stepped up to take the spot kick and made no mistake dispatching his penalty underneath Oli Basey.
The referee pointed to the spot for the hosts once again in the 10th minute with Beesley the culprit once more.
Mason stepped up again to score his second of the afternoon, going the same way as the first one to give his side an early two goal advantage.
Tolu Osiyemi tested Robins keeper Callum Elliott in the 20th minute with a shot from the edge of the area but it was comfortably saved.
Two minutes later, Whickham had their goal after they capitalised on a mistake in midfield, Charlie Aitken then drove forward and his perfectly weighted through ball found Cockburn who slotted past the keeper.
As half time approached the Lang Jacks continued to look for an equaliser and it nearly came when Johnson broke down the right, however his effort was straight at the keeper from a narrow angle.
Half Time: North Shields 2-1 Whickham
Just before the hour mark, Osiyemi saw a header go agonisingly wide before the hosts then broke up the other end and regained their two-goal advantage thanks to Lashley, who rounded Basey before tapping into an empty net.
Substitute Kobe Bewicke was involved in the action straight away off the bench and cut the ball back to Aitken but he mistimed his shot.
The Lang Jacks were looking for a way back into the game, but Johnson’s well-driven effort was dealt with by the Elliott following the Whickham man’s strike from the edge of the area.
As time wore on, goalscorer Cockburn dug out a cross following a lung-busting run but his pass was out of the reach of Johnson inside the box.
Full Time: North Shields 3-1 Whickham
North Shields | Callum Elliott, Lewis Suddick, Blair Adams, Callum Ross, Liam Marrs (Matthew Nelson 61’), Stephen Hall, Regan Paterson (Reece Wanless 86’), Adam Forster (C) (Dean Holmes 68’), Lee Mason (Daniel Waldon 68’), Brandon Slater, Jordan Lashley (Kyle Downey 61’).
Goals | Lee Mason (4’,11’), Jordan Lashley (58’)
Whickham | Oliver Basey, Nathan Beesley (David Below 80’), Jordan Lavery (George Priest 81’), Jake Jensen (Collins Unuareokpa 46’), Callum Munro, Lewis Gibbons, Sam Johnson, Ben Turnbull, Tolu Osiyemi (Kobe Bewicke 69’), Charlie Aitken, Kyle Cockburn
Subs not used | Kane Gray
Goals | Kyle Cockburn (23’)
Yellow Cards | Charlie Aitken (29’)
Referee | Zac Logue
Assistant Referees | Daniel Baxter, John Henderson
Attendance | 412
Up Next | The Lang Jacks face Whitley Bay at the First Mortgage NE Glebe on Wednesday, July 30 with a 7:30 pm kick off.
Written by Callum Jacques
