Month: July 2014

Tow Law v Shildon

Shildon’s pre-season got off to a flier with a 5-2 win at Tow Law Town. Billy Greulich-Smith opened the scoring at the Ironworks before Paul Connor doubled the visitors’ lead.

But the home side tested the Railwaymen by scoring either side of half time to draw the sides level before Shildon retook the lead through a Mark Hudson penalty and then pulled away to a comfortable victory with a debut goal for Michael Rae before the pick of the bunch by Sam Hodgson.

Tom Clegg was there to take the photos which can be viewed here and on Flickr.

[fsg_gallery id=”27″]

Shildon 0-1 Stranraer

Shildon unveiled their new home kit against Stranraer on Friday night in their third pre-season friendly of the new campaign.  It was also their first match of the new season back at Dean Street and although they fell to a single goal two minutes from time, the Railwaymen can be hugely satisfied at matching the Scottish League One side for almost the entire game.

Indeed, the better chances were created by Shildon before the visitors took the lead. Lewis Graham produced an excellent save, stopping a driven shot low to his left side in the early moments of the game before ‘Bobby’ Moore poleaxed a Stranraer defender with a rocket from 25 yards.

After an even first half, Paul Connor could have opened the scoring at the beginning of the second, holding off a number of defenders superbly before skewing his show narrowly wide of the far post from a tight angle.

It was a game of few real chances as both sides cancelled each other out in a competitive midfield battle with the deadlock not being broken until two minutes from time. A well worked move set the Stranraer manager’s brother, Chris Aitken away and he made no mistake, stroking the ball past the onrushing Lewis Graham from the edge of the box.

As Shildon pressed forward in search of a last gasp equaliser, it was instead Lewis Graham who produced another wonder save at the other end as the visitors broke away to prevent an even more unfair scoreline.

Stranraer manager, Stephen Aitken was very complimentary of the Railwaymen’s performance, acknowledging that the side had improved and strengthened since the two met each other during last pre-season.

And certainly the lads can take plenty of confidence from their performances so far in pre-season and will not have had that dented last night, even if a draw would have been a fairer result.

Shildon team: Graham, Richardson, Harwood, Atkin, Craddock, Hudson (Hodgson), Moore, Rundle, Wood, Ruddy, Connor (Garvie).

Railwaymen trek from Britain’s highest pub

You have to be either crazy or a Shildon fan to be setting off from Britain’s highest pub at 10am on a Sunday morning to walk 8 miles across country to Bowes.

In this case our intrepid adventurers are indeed Shildon fans: Norman Smith (also a club director), Wilf Tray, Amanda Scaife and Tom Clegg all set off this morning on a reconnaissance mission to check out the way to Bowes in preparation for their real trek – a sponsored walk in the August Bank Holiday from Tan Hill Inn – Great Britain’s highest pub – all the way back to Dean Street; just a small matter of 28 miles!

The four will make the walk to raise funds for the football club and for each of their chosen charities. (Today’s walk was a freebie!)

Two more will be joining the walk in August and we will bring you information about them in a later update.

Look out too for more details of the sponsored walk and how you can sponsor the walkers in the local press and here on our website in the coming days and weeks.

As for today, we can report that the adventurers made it safely to Bowes and are now all back home enjoying a well earned Sunday dinner!

Tow Law 2-5 Shildon

The close season officially ended today for the Railwaymen and their hosts, Tow Law Town, and for Shildon the new season began with a five star display at the Ironworks. 

Shildon dominated possession and took a two goal first half lead before some lax defending allowed the Lawyers back into the game with two cheap replies.

But the Railwaymen got back on track and scored three more without reply to open their 2014-15 season with a thoroughly deserved 5-2 win.

Two of Shildon’s four close season signings made debut starts, with the returning Daniel ‘Bobby’ Moore in centre midfield and Adam Rundle on the left wing both performing well.

The Durham Challenge Cup winners were on the front foot from the kick off but it took until the 25th minute for Billy Greulich-Smith – the county cup goal hero – to open the scoring with a simple tap in after good work down the right side.

In the 40th minute the lead was doubled when Paul Connor, who looked dangerous throughout the first half, cut inside on the right before curling a left-footed shot past the keeper’s right hand and into the far corner of the net.

But what looked like a straightforward victory was complicated by slack defending either side of the first half.

Just before the break a simple through ball put Scott Thomson clear, and with the defence static, the midfielder has the simplest of tasks to lob the ball over the onrushing Lewis Graham in the Shildon goal.

And just after the break, confusion in the Shildon defence was followed by confusion over the outcome of Simon Ord’s cross-cum-chip, which fortuitously sailed over Lewis Graham and into the far corner of the net. At first it appeared to have been ruled out for a foul, but the referee then seemed to change his mind and award the equalising goal after all.

The goal came as Shildon’s second half substitutes were still finding their feet, but Shildon took the lead again after Sam Garvie had his taken from under him by Tow Law’s keeper. Mark Hudson stepped up to coolly slot home the resultant penalty, sending the keeper the wrong way (pictured above).

It was then the turn of Michael Rae to score his first Shildon goal on his second half debut. Shildon’s forwards pressed the Tow Law defence into losing the ball before sending Rae through to slide the ball easily past the keeper for Shildon’s fourth.

Shildon were playing some scintillating passing football on this hot Saturday afternoon and had two goals ruled out for narrow offside decisions. Both deserved reward for the excellent build-up play that preceded them.

But there was time yet for the Railwaymen to add a fifth goal. Another excellent move down the right culminated in a 16 yard drive by Sam Hodgson which nestled in the corner of the net and saw Shildon off to a comfortable start to their pre-season.

Next up will be a sterner test at Blyth Spartans on Tuesday evening before the side’s first home friendly next Friday – a rematch from last season as Scottish League One side Stranraer visit Dean Street.

Shildon: Graham, Harwood, Richardson, Craddock, Brackstone, Moore, Ruddy, Hudson, Rundle, Greulich-Smith, Connor. Subs: Emms, Rae, Wood, Garvie Hodgson, Atkin (unused).

See photos from today’s match by Tom Clegg on Flickr.

Friendly entry fees announced

Shildon have announced that entry fees for friendly matches will be £4 adults and £2 concessions. Under 12s are free with a paying adult.

Shildon’s three home friendlies begin with the visit of Scottish League One side, Stranraer FC on Friday 18th July.

Next up at Dean Street will be another Scottish side the following Friday, this time Scottish Juniors club, Tayport FC on Friday 25th July.

The third and final home friendly will take place the following Wednesday evening, 30th July, when the Railwaymen will host Heaton Stannington.

All home friendlies will kick off at 7.30pm.

See details of all Shildon’s pre-season friendlies here.

An Evening With Gary Forrest and Mark Hudson

Where: Shildon AFC Social Club
When: Saturday 19th July
What time: 7.30pm

Local Northern League football expert, Pete Sixsmith will be the host when Shildon AFC manager, Gary Forrest and club captain, Mark Hudson, make themselves available for a night of football conversation with a question and answer session about the forthcoming Northern League season.

The event gives Shildon fans old and new the opportunity to quiz the gaffer and captain about the club’s plans for the coming season and to hear stories from their time in football.

Mark Hudson has played at every level of the game, starting his career in the English Premiership with Middlesbrough. Last season he held aloft the Durham Challenge Cup – Shildon’s first major silverware for a decade and the first time the County Cup has been back at Dean Street for 41 years.

The trophy, which will be on display on the night, is the first in Gary Forrest’s reign as manager, and the club expects to go from strength to strength now that the hurdle of the first silverware has been overcome.

Gary will be talking about the new players coming into the side and revealing his ambitions for the season and how they coincide with the recent three-year plan published by the club.

A spokesperson said, “There are a limited number of tickets for the event, which are selling quickly, so be sure to book yours as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. Tickets are just £12 and include complimentary pie, peas and a pint.

“With his deep knowledge of the Northern League and football in general, we are delighted that Pete Sixsmith will be hosting this event and we’re sure he’ll mange to get Gary and Mark to reveal some interesting stories from their time in the game.”

The event takes place at Dean Street clubhouse on Saturday, 19th July from 7.30pm; the day after Shildon play Scottish League One side, Stranraer FC in a home pre-season friendly. Tickets can be booked by calling 07538 789464.