North Shields celebrated their best league result in the club's long history when they trounced Simonside SC 12-1 to maintain hopes of overtaking leaders Nissan in the championship race.

Only four points separate the two contenders and the Robins have a game in hand but a significantly better goal difference.

Secretary David Thompson said: "We scored six times in the last 12 minutes. We now total 89 league goals, five more than Harton and Westoe who have led the scoring charts for most of the season.

"But just as important is the fact that we have conceded only 18 goals which is the lowest figure in the league. Overall, our goal ratio is now 71 compared to 54 by Nissan and at the end of the season it could mean the difference between winning the title and missing out."

Although North Shields defeated Newbiggin 13-2 in the Northumberland Senior Cup in 1965, they had never previously scored 12 goals in a league match although this season they have put ten past Thornaby-on-Tees and defeated both Cleadon SC and Whitburn 9-0.

"It was nice to see Don Winskill at the match. He is a regular supporter at Ralph Gardner Park and in the match against Newbiggin 36 years ago he scored five of the 13 goals.

"He was a prolific scorer and in only 132 outings between 1964 and 1968 hit 163 goals, scoring 59, 52 and 51 in successive seasons.

"Those figures are now unheard of and by comparison our leading scorer is David Burt with 19 which included five in last Saturday's match," added Thompson.

Anthony Robson, who was with the club when they clinched a treble in 1998 by winning the Wearside League championship, the Sunderland Shipowners' Cup and the Northumberland Senior Bowl has stepped down as captain to be replaced by Nicky Evans.

He will continue to play for the club and the only other member of the treble-winning side still at Ralph Gardner Park is Martin Lamb, last season's player of the year.