Shildon’s prolific forward partnership struck again as the Railwaymen took firm command of Northern League Division One with a 4-0 home win over Newcastle Benfield.
Andrei Ardelean opened the scoring in the first quarter of an hour before Joe Posthill once again took centre stage with a second half hat-trick.
Meanwhile, with Guisborough Town recording a 2-0 home win over second place Whitley Bay, the Railwaymen’s grip on top spot tightened as they stretched the gap at the top to eight points.
However a midweek 0-4 win for Bishop Auckland over their neighbours at West reduced the lead to six points as the division’s clubs prepare for this weekend’s fixtures.
A crowd recorded as just two short of 400 visited Dean Street to see the home side inflict further damage on a side they had earlier in the season knocked out of the FA Cup on their own patch.
Ardelean’s opener came after the visitors failed to scramble the ball out of their box and the league’s second top scorer added to his tally to come within one of his teammate.
Whether further motivated by the threat to his top spot in the scoring tables, or simply by the desire to keep scoring goals, the hour mark signalled the beginning of the Joe Posthill show as his terrier-like endeavour led to Shildon’s second when keeper and defenders simply panicked in his presence to gift him the easiest of tap ins.
Within a minute, a thunderous right foot strike from 18 yards exploded past the keeper and into the roof of the net to make it 3-0.
And finally, a solo effort after collecting a long ball, tricking his way past one defender before drifting inside and unleashing a curling effort which knicked another defender and sailed into the net to take his season’s tally to 18 goals in 13 league games.
With their nearest rivals on FA Vase duty this weekend, the Railwaymen have an opportunity to further stretch their lead when they host sixth-place North Shields at Dean Street this Saturday.
Shildon & District's local community newspaper.
