North stakes Town claim
North grabbed the goal which gave Grimsby Town Reserves a 1-0 victory against their Newcastle United counterparts at Blundell Park.
The 22-year-old latched on to Barry Conlon's chipped pass on 32 minutes yesterday and slotted past keeper Jak Alnwick to set up an impressive win which also featured impressive displays from Nathan Jarman and Adrian Forbes.
It was a composed finish from the homegrown forward as moments earlier he had missed a sitter.
North, whose goal against Hereford United in September gave the Mariners their only victory at Blundell Park this season, hopes he is now back in the frame ahead of the trip to Shrewsbury.
He said: "After I missed what was perhaps the easiest chance of life, if I hadn't have scored I'd be suicidal.
"The goal I scored was obviously a lot tougher than the one I missed so I'm delighted that I got through, held the defender off, and managed to slot it past the keeper.
"With the number of strikers here you just have to get goals, and that means performing for the Reserves and doing it in training to show what you can do.
"And today I think my performance showed what I can do, so hopefully I can put in a good couple of sessions in training and be in the frame for Saturday."
North welcomed the arrival of Middlesbrough winger James Cronesberry, who joined Town on trial on Monday and made a bright showing.
The only downside was a hamstring injury to Mark Hudson, who was forced to leave the pitch in the first half.
"James has trained with us and looked sharp when he came on," North said.
"He is enthusiastic and put in a great tackle that almost led to a second goal for me.
"The whole team I felt played some good football at times.
"Newcastle are a very strong and technical team but, after they had the first good chance and hit the bar early on, I think we were the better team throughout.
"Overall, it was great to get the win and for the team to keep a clean sheet."
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