Shildon captain, Mark Hudson reflects on the Railwaymen’s Durham Challenge Cup semi final win over Consett and looks to the league campaign ahead.
The semi final victory means Shildon will play in their first cup final since 2007-08 with local rivals, Spennymoor Town the opponents.
The final date remains to be officially confirmed, but is expected to be played on Good Friday, 18 April, at the Eppleton Colliery Football Ground, Hetton Le Hole, with an 11am kick off
Shildon manager, Gary Forrest reflects on tonight’s Durham Challenge Cup semi final win over Consett.
The victory means Shildon will play in their first cup final since 2007 with local rivals, Spennymoor Town the opponents.
The final will be played on Good Friday, 18 April, at the Eppleton Colliery Football Ground, Hetton Le Hole.
Cup fever is gripping Shildon as the Railwaymen prepare to take on Consett in the Durham Challenge Cup semi final in a 7.30pm kick off tonight at Dean Street.
Tonight’s match gives Shildon the chance to reach a domestic cup final for the first time since the 2007-08 League Cup final. The League Cup is also the last trophy the Railwaymen won, in 2002-03.
The Railwaymen have not won the Durham Challenge Cup since 1972, but are hoping to write a new page in the history of the club this season.
If the match lives up to every other round contested by both sides this season, it should be a thrilling encounter: Consett have scored four goals in every round, knocking out a strong Hartlepool United side along the way, while all of Shildon’s matches so far have been extended into extra time, with the Railwaymen requiring penalties to finally see off Norton & Stockton Ancients in the first round.
Tonight’s match must also be won on the night, so if the scores are level after 90 minutes, extra time will be required and then, if needed, a penalty shootout.
Entry to tonight’s match is £6 adults, £4 concessions and under 12s are free with a paying adult.
So come along and cheer the lads into a Good Friday local derby final, where Spennymoor Town await tonight’s winners!
Highlights of Shildon’s dramatic 2-1 extra-time win over Dunston UTS in the Durham Challenge Cup quarter final at Dean Street on Wednesday night, 19 February. The Railwaymen, who finished the match with ten men, will now face Consett at Dean Street for a place in the final.
Steven Johnson made a welcome – and scoring – return debut at Dean Street as The Railwaymen took on the Terriers in Ebac Northern League Division One.
A dream start saw Johnson score a first minute opener in a game in which the home side were rarely troubled. Second half goals from Sam Garvie and a second from Johnson made sure Shildon collected all three points to keep their title dreams on track.
Shildon’s Durham Challenge Cup Semi Final tie against Consett has been brought forward to next Wednesday after Consett’s players had arranged time off to attend Sunderland’s League Cup Final match at Wembley Stadium on Sunday 2nd March.
While the Northern League and Durham FA had agreed to the unusual arrangement of scheduling the match for Saturday 1st March – unusual because Durham Challenge Cup matches are usually played midweek under floodlights – it appears that Consett, under the impression they had a free Saturday, had given their players permission to arrange tickets for Sunderland’s big day in the capital the following afternoon.
The match has now been brought forward and will take place in the traditional manner, under floodlights, on Wednesday 26th February at 7.30pm, meaning that Shildon’s league match against Guisborough has had to be postponed to a later date.
The mix-up also means that Shildon will now have a free Saturday on March 1st.