Shildon AFC maintained their four point lead at the top of the Northern League on Saturday 10th October with a hard fought 2-1 win away at Ashington.

The Railwaymen accelerated into a two goal lead through a Lewis Wing free kick after 16 minutes and a Gary Brown bullet header from a 23rd minute corner.

Ashington clawed their way back into the game with a 51st minute goal by Ben Harmison, but while they dominated for long spells of the second half, they were unable to find an equaliser.

Shildon followed their win by dropping two league points on Tuesday 13th October at Whitley Bay.

After going two goals behind they fought back, levelling the score with just minutes remaining.

This was no more than the Railwaymen deserved as they were the far better side on the night and should have won the game comfortably.

Bay started strongly with Alex Kempster hitting the post after just 4 minutes before Liam Hudson put them ahead before the break with a header after a goalmouth scramble on 27 minutes.

Early in the second half a Kyle Fryatt shot was well stopped by Bay keeper Andrew Jennison, who minutes later left the field injured. A visit to hospital for an x-ray discovered a broken bone in the keeper’s hand which will keep him out for some time.

Against the run of play the home side went two up when a corner was headed home by Liam Hudson for his second goal of the night.

Although two behind, it was all Shildon and they got their just reward on 68 minutes when substitute, Billy Greulich-Smith scrambled the ball home.

After Paul Connor missed two glorious chances to level the score a long through ball from Greulich-Smith was intercepted by centre-half, Josh Day who could only look on in horror as the ball flew past his keeper and into his own net with three minutes remaining.

In time added on, Connor missed the best chance of the night, passing the ball weakly into the keeper’s grateful hands when through on goal.