Month: September 2013

A warm welcome was extended to Shildon AFC on their first game of the season at Eastbourne Sports Complex. Shildon AFC produced a great team effort, which gave them a brilliant 13 -0 lead. Noah scored from the half way line from a free kick in the 14^th minute. Sam scored from a back heel pass from Noah to score a brilliant goal. Zander Caygill was unlucky not to score from a powerful shot saved by Middleton Rangers goal keeper. Shildon AFC goalkeepers made great saves and this ensured kept Shildon a clean sheet.

Great result, great game enjoyed by players and supporters.

Under 8’s

Leven Athletic 2 8 Shildon

Scorers – Jack Leighton (5), James Plews (2) Ben Moore (1)

Man of the match – Jack Leighton

A very tough 1st half, Shildon had a lot of shots at goal saved and went into half time 2 nil down. As soon as the 2nd half kicked off, Shildon turned on the pressure and the goals began. Shildon passed the ball really well and their defence was rock solid. A great start to the new season.

Under 9’s

Shildon 3 9 Ferryhill Youth

Scorers – Kian Dixon (2) Michael Gaffney (1)

Man of the match – Jamie Donohue

The newly formed Shildon AFC U9’s played their first ever match together on Sunday at the Scout field and showed real potential against a well organised Ferryhill Youth.
The side took the first half getting to know each other so it was no surprise they went in at half time 6 – 0 down. However from then on the team started to blend together and were the better team for long periods. 2 goals from Kian Dixon and 1 from Michael Gaffney brought the Shildon side back into the game. Cole Layfield and Anthony Jary were running riot on the wings. Kai Chadwick and Caitlyn Lawton were now looking solid in defence and stopped the Ferryhill attack on many occasions giving Shildon the chance to counter attack. The game finished 9 – 3 to the visitors.
The second game was a much tighter performance. Ashley Jardine entered the proceedings and immediately made his presence felt. Two more well executed goals from Kian Dixon and fine lob from Michael Gaffney rounded off the scoring for Shildon. The team put in a fine performance and show real potential for the future. Man of the Match was Jamie Donohue in goal who pulled off a string of fine saves throughout both games. The final score 3-3 which was the very least they deserved. Well done all the players.

The team was, Jamie Donohue, Caitlyn Lawton, Kai Chadwick, Cole Layfield, Michael Gaffney, Anthony Jary, Kian Dixon and Ashley Jardine.

Under 10’s

Darlington 21^st All Stars 0 4 Shildon

Scorers – Kane Hopwood (2) James Rusby (2)

Man of the match – Jacob Race

Shildon produced an excellent start to the season with a solid all round performance, scoring in the 7th minute by a good right foot shot by James Rusby. In the second half a header by Kane Hopwood doubled the lead. After a perfect through ball James Rusby netted his second goal. With 5 minutes to go a thunderbolt strike from 20 yards gave Kane Hopwood his 2nd goal. On the side line Lee Race kept control of the game + himself!

Under 11’s

Shildon 2 11 Hartlepool Warriors

Scorers Brown (2)

Man of the Match

Under 16’s

Stockton Rangers 6 5 Shildon

Scorers Douglas (2) Bainbridge (1) Robinson (1) Stokoe (1)

Man of the Match

September 7, 2013June 5, 2014

Sammy seals it in soggy Bedlington

Shildon returned from Bedlington with all three points after one of the most dominant displays one is likely to witness at any match. The foul weather and televised World Cup football kept the attendance below the hoped for spike that Friday night football might bring to the Northern League this season, but the small crowd were nevertheless entertained by the one-sided spectacle.

In the pouring rain, the Railwaymen poured forward from start to finish, forcing the Terriers onto the back foot for the majority of the match. Yet it took a fabulous save from Lewis Graham midway through the second half to prevent the home side from taking a shock lead.

Diving to his right, the young keeper fingertipped the ball onto the post and, moments later, Shildon benefitted from another slight contact as Sam Garvie’s cross was diverted into the net for a deserved, if somewhat fortunate goal to take the lead.

Ten minutes from time Garvie doubled his and Shildon’s tally with a thunderous drive to put the match beyond Bedlington.

It was another match in which Shildon forged countless opportunities but failed to find the net until the home defence’s luckless intervention in the 66th minute. Of course it could also be argued that by creating so many chances, the breakthrough is almost a statistical inevitability. If any match made the case for such an argument it was surely this one.

Shildon must be commended for continuing to search for the first goal in the face of so many chances falling by the wayside and, having found the opener, it seemed certain that the scoreline would be extended.

Thirteen minutes from time Shildon made a double substitution. The industrious pair of Billy Greulich-Smith and Ben Wood were replaced by Stephen Turnbull and Paul Connor, both of whom were making welcome returns from injury.

Within three minutes the pair combined to force the opening that led to the second goal. Turnbull’s cross from Connor’s pass was laid back into the striker’s path by Scroggins. The blocked shot landed in Garvie’s path and the forward volleyed powerfully home.

The scoreline failed to demonstrate Shildon’s complete dominance of this tie, but the side will be happy to celebrate taking all three points in this first of at least five Friday night fixtures the side will play this season.

September 5, 2013June 6, 2014

Friday night football is here!

Friday night football is upon us as the Railwaymen get set to travel to Bedlington for their first Friday fixture of the season.

At this early stage, Shildon sit 14th having played just five matches while Bedlington, having overcome their difficulties from last season, lie in second position after playing seven games.

A win tomorrow for the Railwaymen will shoot them at least eight places up the league before the bulk of the fixtures are played on Saturday afternoon.

Friday night football has generated much debate about its merits, but Shildon manager, Gary Forrest, is convinced that it will bring financial benefits to the Northern League.

“I understand the traditionalists will want us to play on a Saturday,” said Gary in last weekend’s match programme, “but surely in light of the impact that Sky TV and Premier League football is having on grassroots football we must experiment, and my personal belief is that Friday night football will significantly increase attendances.

“I have looked at the attendances of the Northern League teams in the last round of the FA Cup,” continues Gary. “The only club that had an increased attendance level was Bishop Auckland. Coincidently, they played their game on the Friday night. Other clubs, Spennymoor included, saw a decrease on their attendance compared to their last home game.

“We have managed to agree to play Friday night with a few clubs so far, but for us to properly compare results, we probably need to play at least 10 homes games on a Friday night.

“If we could get an extra 100 people through the turnstiles,” suggests Gary, “it would generate approximately £500 extra revenue per game, twenty two homes games a season is £11,000.”

Shildon will be looking to return to winning ways after falling in the FA Cup at home against Penrith last Saturday.