Last midweek, Shildon AFC produced a great performance at Newcastle Blue Star to earn their first league win of the new campaign against a side widely tipped for promotion this season, reports Wilf Tray.
Ciaran Banks raced through to put Shildon ahead after only three minutes, and the visitors never looked back.
The lead was doubled after only nine minutes when a Billy Greulich-Smith shot was saved but Luke Spalding was on hand to tap home the rebound.
Shildon remained in control throughout the first half without adding to their tally.
The home side came more into the contest in the second half but Shildon defended well and only offered the hosts the odd half chance.
The game was made safe in the 81st minute with a superb 25 yard drive from Sam Hodgson which gave the goalkeeper no chance.
Shildon were disappointed not to keep a clean sheet when the home side were awarded a dubious penalty right on 90 minutes.
However, the victory came at a price for the Railwaymen with both Aaron Cunningham and Elliott Day being carried off with serious looking injuries ahead of the weekend’s FA Cup tie against Ashington.
That ‘home’ tie, with Dean Street still being redeveloped, took place at Consett, with the hosts further depleted by unavailability as well as injury.
However, Shildon produced a spirited and professional performance to overcome higher-ranked visitors Ashington in emphatic fashion.
The Railwaymen started brightly, applying early pressure and forcing Ashington onto the back foot.
Chances soon followed, with Andrei Ardelean rattling the crossbar in what was the first of several promising openings.
Shildon’s perseverance was rewarded on 21 minutes when Jon Weirs capped off a fluid attacking move by firing clinically into the bottom corner and the hosts took a deserved 1–0 advantage into half time.
Ashington looked to respond after the interval but rarely tested debutant goalkeeper Mathew Wheeler.
Shildon extended their lead on 69 minutes when Andrei Ardelean thundered a strike into the roof of the net, and three minutes later, Spalding added a third with a composed finish after racing clear of the defence.
The visitors snatched a late consolation from the penalty spot, but couldn’t prevent the Railwaymen from progressing to face Birtley Town in the next round.
Wilf Tray
Shildon & District's local community newspaper.
