Three draws and a defeat in their last five league games have seen Shildon slide from a commanding early lead in Northern League Division One to occupy fourth place ahead of the midweek visit of Guisborough to Dean Street on Wednesday 14th September.
FA Vase holders Morpeth Town subjected the Railwaymen to their first defeat of the season at Craik Park after Shildon had taken the lead through Paul Connor in the first half.
But a goal before the break and another midway through the half were enough to claim all three points for the home side.
Shildon started the match the brighter and in the first five minutes both Paul Connor and Sam Hodgson had shots well blocked by ’keeper Karl Dryden.
At the other end, on 23 minutes Shildon’s ’keeper Nick Liversedge made a brilliant one handed save from Ben Sayer.
On the balance of play, Shildon deservedly took the lead on 27 minutes when a Lewis Wing free kick was fumbled by the keeper and Connor stepped in to convert the rebound.
However, six minutes before the interval Morpeth levelled when Luke Carr found Michael Chilton who scored from close range.
Buoyed by the equaliser, Morpeth came out stronger in the second half and went ahead on 68 minutes when a cross was headed on by Chris Swailes to Paul Robinson who turned his man and fired past Liversedge.
Shildon pressed for the equaliser and were unlucky on 81 minutes when a long range free kick by Lewis Wing hit the post with the keeper stranded, and in time added on Paul Connor’s shot was well saved to preserve the points for the home side.
Shildon are now six points behind joint leaders, North and South Shields and a point behind local rivals, Newton Aycliffe.
On Saturday (17th September) Shildon will be looking to forget about their dip in league form as they travel to the Cumbrian coast in search of an FA Cup upset when they take on Workington AFC of the Northern Premier League Premier Division in the Second Qualifying Round.
Shildon & District's local community newspaper.
