They say that good things come to those who wait, and the waiting is now over for Shildon, who were declared champions of Northern League Division One after a 4-0 win at the home of local rivals, Bishop Auckland.
Captain, Daniel ‘Bobby’ Moore, Striker, Ben Wood – who opened the scoring at Heritage Park – and manager Gary Forrest admitted that complacency rather than nerves had crept into the side’s play in recent weeks, but there was nothing lacking in the side’s performance on Bank Holiday Monday.
As the only remaining challengers in the title race by the time of Monday’s programme of games, last season’s champions, Marske United, who pipped Shildon to the title after a twelve game unbeaten run, threatened something similar again this season.
Their defeat of Shildon a fortnight ago delayed the Railwaymen’s celebrations and left some, after last season’s heartache, fearing the worst.
But Shildon’s run of 18 games unbeaten, including 16 wins, from the end of November until the middle of April was championship winning form and this time they were not to be denied.
Marske were also playing a local derby against Guisborough on Monday and with their game kicking off an hour before Shildon’s, news had filtered through by kick off time at Heritage Park that the Seasiders were losing 1-0 at half time.
Shildon’s players were unaware, Forrest having ordered that phones should remain switched off so that the players could remain switched on to their own task.
And it was soon clear that they had shaken off the remnants of complacency when Ben Wood opened the scoring to the delight of the visiting fans with and early nerve-settling goal in four minutes.
Billy Greulich-Smith then doubled the lead in the 22nd minute, prodding home after a goalmouth scramble.
Fans, however, were keeing one eye on social media as the Marske game drew to a close and with the title challengers still behind, the race would be over if they lost while Shildon won.
Shildon were playing in the style of champions, controlling their game from start to finish and restricting Bishop to just one good chance in the first half.
As the half time break approached, so full time beckoned in Marske and a loud cheer rang out when Guisborough made sure of victory with a second goal two minutes from time.
If Shildon’s players didn’t know what was required before, they couldn’t fail to know then that the title was now within their grasp.
All that remained was for the Railwaymen to hold on to their lead in the second half, but even with their domination, there remained a few nerves on the terracing with the fans wishing for a third to put the game out of reach.
Their wishes were fulfilled when Shildon won a penalty in the 72nd minute after Ben Wood was hauled to the ground inside the box.
Regular taker, Anth Bell was happy to hand the ball to Greulich-Smith who was seekign to score his 30th goal of the season, but instructions from the bench were that Bell should take the kick, which he duly converted.
It was an example of the professionalism in the preparations of this Shildon side that they stuck to the management’s script and were duly rewarded for doing so.
With four minutes remaining, Mickey Rae replaced Anth Bell and as the clock struck 90 minutes, so Mickey slotted home Shildon’s fourth to complete an historic day of celebration for the Railwaymen at Heritage Park as the title headed to Dean Street for the first time in seventy-six years.
Shildon & District's local community newspaper.
