Shildon AFC are through to the Third Round of the Brooks Mileson Memorial League Cup after a comprehensive 4-1 win over Newcastle Benfield at Dean Street on Tuesday evening.
Saturday’s home league fixture against West Allotment Celtic was the latest to fall foul of the recent freeze and has now been rescheduled for the evening of Tuesday 28 January.
However, this week’s thaw allowed the midweek cup tie to go ahead as scheduled and after an early period of pressure from the visitors, the Railwaymen quickly nipped any pretentions of an upset in the bud when Elliott Day opened the scoring in the fifth minute.
Five minutes later the lead was doubled when Adam Lennox continued his run of scoring form.
Lennox was then presented with a golden opportunity to double his tally from the penalty spot on the half hour, but visiting keeper, Thomas Shanley, was up to the task of denying the striker his second and Shildon’s third.
Five minutes before the break it was Aaron Cunningham’s turn to come close but his fierce effort rattled the crossbar.
However, it was no more than a delay to the inevitable, and with fifteen minutes to play, the hosts again found the back of the net through Nathan Greenwood.
The visitors clawed a goal back five minutes later through James Wilson, but any thoughts of a fightback were duly dismissed when Ashton Houlahan celebrated his selection to the England U18 Schoolboys squad for the 2024/25 international season by putting the gloss on the evening’s performance with the fourth two minutes from time.
This weekend, the league leaders travel to Hillheads Park to take on Whitley Bay while second place Redcar, who were beaten 2-1 by Benfield in their last league game at the end of the year, host Guisborough.
Then, on Tuesday evening, it’s the rescheduled Durham Challenge Cup semi-final at Dean Street, when Hebburn Town will be the visitors.
Meanwhile, defender, Jack Vaulks has left the club and joined Bishop Auckland FC in the Northern Premier League North Division.
A statement on the club website said: “Shildon AFC can confirm that Jack Vaulks has left the club to sign for Bishop Auckland FC for an undisclosed fee.
“We would like to say a huge thank you to Jack for his time and commitment at the club and wish him well for the future.”
Shildon & District's local community newspaper.
