Shildon AFC kicked off their pre-season campaign with a game at Sunderland Leisure Hub against Easington WMC which they won comfortably by 11-0, reports Shildonian and Wilf Tray.
Ben Reay started the rout after 28 seconds, then four goals in 22 minutes from Spalding and one from Price on 28mins made it game over by half time.
After five substitutions at half time, goals from Cunningham, Lennox (2) Green and Harris made the win even more convincing over the Wearside League side to provide the squad with a good first game in very warm conditions.
There was no game the following Saturday so the next game was at a highly fancied Morpeth on their artificial pitch on the Tuesday.
The first 20 minutes belonged to the home side, but Shildon grew into the game after great saves from new keeper, Sam Taylor, and a few squandered chances from the Morpeth strikers led to a 0-0 scoreline at half time, despite Shildon having the better of the last 20 minutes.
One change at half time saw Banks come on for Day and a great start to the second period by Shildon saw Lennox unlucky.
However, a superb fast move saw Reay and Spalding link up to provide Lennox with a tap in to give the visitors the lead.
Ardelean, Hoolahan and A. Trialist came on just before Morpeth equalised and then made ten substitutions.
Ardelean then scored Shildon’s second and winning goal.
Again, there was no Saturday game, which meant a Tuesday trip to Consett where goals from Reay and another from Ardelean put the visitors two up before a strong Consett side replied with two late goals to earn a draw.
Next was a trip to National League North side, South Shields, for an entertaining game with Shildon fully deserving a draw against full time opposition playing their football three leagues higher.
South Shields had most of the ball for most of the game but Shildon threatened constantly on the break.
It was becoming a good bet for a goalless draw when Shields went ahead through a fortuitous and unlucky own goal in the 85th minute.
But not letting their heads drop, Shildon equalised in the 88th minute through an Arran Cunningham header.
And so pre-season ends undefeated for Shildon, having faced three opponents from higher tiered leagues.
But the real business starts this weekend when Shildon travel to Carlisle City for the opening game of a season in which their first fourteen games will take place away from home while work continues to install the new 3G surface at Dean Street.
Shildon & District's local community newspaper.
