Shildon came back from behind twice to eventually see off local rivals Newton Aycliffe by 4-2 at Dean Street on Saturday, before bringing their tally of goals to ten in two games with a midweek 6-2 mauling of Birtley Town.
The Railwaymen’s inexorable climb back up the table after two very early season losses continued at the weekend, albeit it took a visiting goal, sprinkled with some sense of injustice, to spark the hosts into life.
The Shildon support and players, somewhat used to taking an early lead in games, found themselves a goal behind when Sam Johnson slammed home midway through the first half.
Shildon felt themselves hard done by when Leighton Harris, marauding down the Aycliffe left, was brought down inside the visitors’ half.
But while players stood and called for the referee’s whistle, the official waved play on and the visitors duly did. Jake Orell sprinted into the gap left by the floundering Harris before delivering a left footed cross duly crashed home by Johnson from the opposite corner of the box.
It was enough to light a fire under the hosts and within seven minutes they were back on level terms. A well-worked move after a half-cleared corner saw the ball drop to David Vincent at the edge of the 18-yard area and whatever Johnson could so, so could he, send the ball fizzing past the keeper.
But the hosts continued to exercise the home side and retook the lead five minutes before the break when Andrew Nelson converted after some penalty box pinball.
But whatever was said in the dressing room, the second half belonged to the hosts, and to Alfie Steel.
Restoring parity just two minutes in, the centre forward would go on to give Shildon the lead for the first time in the game with just seven minutes remaining before making sure of the three points, deep into added time.
Having climbed to third, the Railwaymen set foot on the next rung of the league ladder on Tuesday night, when they took Birtley Town apart at Dean Street.
Anyone failing to notice the goals fly in may have been of the opinion that the game was closely contested, as indeed it was barring two explosive spells.
A period of 16 minutes, from the 16th to the 32nd minute, witnessed an incredible six goals as the match took on the end-to-end spectacle of a basketball game.
Joe Posthill opened the scoring on 16, firing home left footed from the left corner of the box.
Leighton Harris then doubled the lead with a perfectly placed effort into the postage stamp.
However, back came the visitors to halve the lead on 24, Dale Burrell pouncing on a loose ball after a goal-saving tackle.
Just a minute later, Alfie Myers-Smith restored the two-goal advantage glancing home a header from a corner.
But there was Burrell again to reduce the deficit to one on 32, firing the sixth goal in 16 minutes into Andrew Jennison’s bottom right corner after the keeper had made an excellent initial save low to his left.
It took a further half hour of play, as well as the half-time break, for everyone to recover their breath before anothe two-minute burst on the hour took the game away from the visitors.
First Joe Postill collected his brace on 61, albeit with a hint of offside.
Alfie Steel then notched his second two minutes later, again in a tight call, causing the referee to intervene as opposition anger threatened to spill over.
Shildon now turn their attention to the FA Cuo and Vase.
First is rhew visit of Warrington Town on Saturday in the FA Cup before a trip to Garstang, the following weekend in the FA Vase.
A supporters bus is running to the Vase game, with some seats still available. To book yours, call David Wardell on 07894 387576.
Shildon & District's local community newspaper.
