Shildon stretched their lead at the top of the Northern League to eleven points on Tuesday night (16th February) after a Michael Rae hat-trick and a stoppage time goal by Lewis Wing ensured the Railwaymen, with a 4-1 win, reclaimed the three points they had previously won in October after the original game was voided by the Northern League.
Prior to this game, Shildon had swept aside Dunston on Saturday (13th February), winning 5-0 through a Michael Rae double, another from Lewis Wing and a goal each from Lewis Dodds and Billy Greulich-Smith.
Shildon have now taken maximum points from their last six league matches, scoring 25 goals in the process.
Saturday’s win ensured that they extended their lead to eight points when the game between Morpeth and Guisborough, third and second in the league respectively, was called off.
Tuesday night’s match was ordered to be replayed by the Northern League after Shildon had fielded Anthony Bell in the original game before discovering that his international clearance had not been processed by either of the two English clubs he had previously played for after a spell playing in Wales for Cardiff.
The FA’s esoteric rules mean that, although Cardiff play in the English leagues, they are under the jurisdiction of the Welsh FA and considered an overseas association requiring international clearance for players transferring to English clubs.
Anything less than three points would have been considered points lost in the league campaign, but Shildon could not have got off to a better start when Rae opened the scoring after just 70 seconds.
Within 20 minutes, Rae and Shildon had doubled their tally when Ashington keeper, Conor Grant could only punch a looping header into his own net and the game already looked beyond the home side.
Just before the break, Ben Wood missed a glorious opportunity to put the tie beyond doubt when he broke the offside trap, but he pushed his shot just wide of the post.
The third eventually came when Rae pounced again for his hat-trick after a Kyle Hayes goal kick deceived the Ashington defence, leaving the striker to slot past Grant in the home goal.
It was Rae’s seventh goal in just three matches after returning to the side in place of the injured Paul Connor.
With ten minutes to go, Ashington reduced the deficit through Andrew Bulford and enjoyed a spell of pressure which Shildon had to soak up to ensure there was no slip up from their commanding position.
Instead, it was Shildon who broke forward in added time for Lewis Wing to slam home a right footed shot from the edge of the box and ensure all three points would be heading back to Dean Street.
Shildon are now eleven clear of second placed Guisborough and a full 17 points ahead of Morpeth – the only side capable of overtaking them in the table.
Morpeth could collect seven more points than Shildon if they were to win all eight games they have in hand, but the Highwaymen will have to endure a punishing schedule of 24 league games in the final ten weeks of the campaign in order to do so.
Shildon, meanwhile, will look to continue their rich vein of form when they make the short trip to Heritage Park on Saturday for the always eagerly anticipated local derby at Bishop Auckland. Kick off is at 3pm.
Shildon & District's local community newspaper.
