By Andrew McDonnell (@AndrewSJourno)

After a busy December, Morpeth Town’s first game of 2018 will be against North Shields, who finished third in Division One last season.

Club: North Shields

Nickname: The Robins

Founded: 1896 (North Shields Athletic)

Ground: Daren Persson Stadium. Ralph Gardner Park, West Percy Road, Chirton, North Shields, NE29 6UA

Craik Park to North Shields: 17 miles

Last Season: 3rd

Twitter: @NorthShieldsFC

It’s always a close encounter whenever Morpeth Town and North Shields lock horns, and the game away to the Robins in January should be no different.

The sides will have already faced off in the league at Craik Park by the time the fixture comes around, and Brian Smith’s side will certainly be challenging at the top of the table once again this season.

In the three games that Morpeth and North Shields contested last season, the Highwaymen came out on top in them all.

Starting with the FA Cup game last August, Michael Chilton’s strike on that wet afternoon helped Morpeth progress through to the First Qualifying Round.

As for the league games, Nick Gray and Dave Malone’s side won 2-0 at Craik Park thanks to goals from captain Keith Graydon and forward Liam Henderson.

In the reverse fixture in April, the Highwaymen edged out 2-1 winners thanks to a brace from winger Joe Walton.

In terms of transfers, Bobby Taylor has left the Robins to join Blyth Town in Division Two and Michael McKeown has also departed.

However, manager Smith has acted swiftly in bringing back John Parker from West Auckland Town, while David Henderson joined from West Allotment and Joe Robson and Kurtis Dodds have signed from National League side Gateshead.

Morpeth and North Shields’ first meeting was in the Northumberland Senior Cup back in 2006, which the Highwaymen won 3-0.

Two more cup games followed before the pair faced each other in the league for the first time in 2011 – Morpeth won their FA Vase encounter in 2007, 5-0, and the League Cup game in 2008, 6-0.

The Robins did manage to get one back as they won the first league game 4-1, and the overall record between the two sides is very close.

Morpeth have 10 wins from their 21 meetings with the Robins, who have nine victories to their name, and two draws.

At the Daren Persson Stadium, both Morpeth and North Shields have five wins apiece, and there have been two draws in the 12 meetings there.