Shildon stretched their unbeaten start to the season to five games when the Northern League champions entertained Cumbrians Kendal Town from Evo-Stik Division One North in the preliminary round of The Emirates FA Cup.
On a damp and dismal day of wet and windy weather, both teams managed to start brightly and it was Kendal who created the first opening with an early break by Ollie Wood whose effort was well saved by Nick Liversedge.
Shildon responded quickly with Lewis Wing trying an attempt from distance before winning a free kick in the eighth minute after being bundled to the ground.
Twenty yards from goal and central, the dead ball was perfect for set-piece expert Wing, who duly recovered from the foul before firing a low drive around the wall and out of reach of Kendal ’keeper Will Kitchen.
An early concession was the last thing their higher league opponents wanted against a strong Shildon side who went on to domonate first half possession, and create several chances.
In the 23rd minute Anthony Bell’s curler looked certain to find the net but shaved the wrong side of the post.
A minute later, David Ferguson was found in the six-yard box by a Wing pass but was ruled offside.
Three minutes before the break the visitors managed to create a rare opening after Matthew Dudley beat several players with a weaving run before firing his final shot just wide.
Shildon could have doubled the lead on the stroke of half time but Ben Wood failed to capitalise on a David Ferguson cross.
The Railwaymen were forced into a change at the break when centre back Carl Jones, with a slight strain, was replaced by striker Paul Connor with the versatile Ferguson dropping back into the defence.
In 52 minutes, Shildon carved out their next opening but Ben Wood was unable to get enough power on his header.
A spell of concerted pressure followed, with Connor, Bell, Wing and Wood making sure it remained hot work for Kitchen in the Kendal goal.
Kendal, however, continued to work hard and a good move allowed Danny Forbes to go close from Matthew Dudley’s deep cross.
Then came a moment of controversy in the 72nd minute as Forbes latched on to a spilled ball from Liversedge in the Shildon goal and fired home, only for the referee to whistle for a foul on the ’keeper who had been pressured as the corner swung towards him.
With the visitors still complaining at their rough luck, Shildon compounded their misery by immediately breaking forward and doubling their lead.
Anthony Bell and Ben Wood combined to set up Lewis Wing who turned his man and made no mistake, burying his shot hard and low into the bottom corner of Kitchen’s goal.
A late chance fell for Kendal’s Ollie Wood but Liversedge produced a fine save to protect his clean sheet and see the Railwaymen into the next round.
Shildon will now travel to nearby Washington for the First Qualifying Round on Saturday 3rd September, kicking off at 3pm.
Before then, the Railwaymen play three league matches, including a midweek home league tie against Whitley Bay followed by another home league game on Saturday against newcomers Ryhope CW, kicking off at 3pm.
Then, on Bank Holiday Monday, the Railwaymen will revisit the scene of their championship-clinching triumph of last season when they face Bishop Auckland at Heritage Park in a 12 noon kick off.
Shildon & District's local community newspaper.
