Shildon AFC recorded their third victory on the spin, including a cup upset at Stockton Town last midweek and a home win over Tow Law on Saturday.
The Railwaymen travelled to Stockton-on-Tees last Wednesday evening (6 November) to face their former Northern League rivals, now riding high in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, two leagues above their visitors.
What was expected to be a difficult task to reach the quarter finals of the Durham Challenge Cup proved anything but, with Shildon holding on to a two-goal lead, courtesy of two Adam Lennox penalties (27 and 48) until added time.
The hosts halved the deficit through Lewis Leech in the ninety-first minute, but it was Shildon and Luke Spalding who made sure of progression two minutes later.
The Railwaymen will now face another familiar foe in the next round after being drawn away from home at local rivals, West Auckland Town.
The quarter-final fixture is scheduled to take place in the midweek preceding 14 December with the specific date yet to be confirmed.
And in other cup news, Shildon have received a bye to the second round of the Brooks Mileson League Cup when they will host Newcastle Benfield at Dean Street. The fixture date is yet to be arranged.
Meanwhile, the side made it three wins in a row when ten men saw off Tow Law Town after David Vincent, who had opened the scoring in the eighth minute, received his marching orders an hour later.
By then, the hosts were two up after Ciaran Banks had converted from the spot in the 52nd minute. The Lawyers pulled one back immediately after Vincent’s red card through Dan Smith, but a leveller eluded them.
While defeat at Birtley may have sparked worries of a return to their calamitous early season form, those fears have proved unfounded with the side now on a run of eight wins from their last nine fixtures in all competitions.
This weekend, the side will be motivated by the opportunity to avenge their early season 3-5 home defeat to Boro Rangers as they visit Phoenix Park for the return fixture on Saturday.
And with the region’s Premier League and Championship on pause for the international break, it provides a great opportunity for fans of the bigger clubs to take in a Shildon match and boost their home side’s following.
Meanwhile, the Northern League has announced that it is producing league themed Christmas jumpers this year to raise money for charities providing Christmas lunches to the homeless.
In what it believes to be a non-league first, the League has unveiled a unique Christmas jumper design featuring the badges of all member clubs, arranged in the shape of a Christmas tree, available as a t-shirt, sweatshirt or hoodie.
Profits from the sale will be split between the People’s Kitchen, who provide a three course Christmas lunch for the homeless in Tyne & Wear, and Durham Rescue Mission who offer the same in Durham.
They are available for purchase until 16 December. For more information, check the latest news section of the league website.
Shildon & District's local community newspaper.
