Shildon progressed into the next round of the FA Vase with a 3-0 victory over Tow Law Town.
Kurt Matthews set Shildon on their way with a fine finish after 29 minutes. Shildon had several other chances in the half but went in at the break 1-0
After 66 minutes Danny Craggs curled a free kick into the net and Zak Atkinson scored after 72 minutes.
Final Score : Shildon 3 Tow Law Town 0
Man Of The Match : Kurt Matthews
Attendance : 188
Points shared in feisty derby by Josh Hart
Shildon’s final home game of the season ended all square, following a feisty encounter with rivals Bishop Auckland.
In what proved to be a scrappy game, Daniel Moores men edged a cagey first half and even led at the break thanks to a fine strike from number 10 Billy Greulich-Smith in the 19th minute.
Prior to the goal, the Railwaymen were applying pressure to Bishop Auckland, who started the game slow.
Bishop Auckland did respond early in the second half however, equalising via a Hoganson free kick into the bottom right hand corner after just 3 minuted played.
The remainder of the second half saw Shildon dominate a large proportion of the possession in Bishop Aucklands half, whilst the away side attempted to counter down the left flank whenever possible.
The home side also created many set piece opportunities, drawing fouls from the Bishop Auckland back line and midfield, particularly in the middle third of the pitch.
However, the biggest chance of the second half did fall to the away side, with Bishop Auckland failing to take the opportunity gifted to them by the Shildon keeper.
Speaking after the game manager Daniel Moore stated: ‘’I think we probably shaded it first half and they had a couple of chances second half, so on the whole probably a fair result’’
The result now leaves Shildon in 7th place, one point behind 6th placed Stockton Town.
Attendance: 384
Shildon remain in 7th place of the Ebac Northern League after a 4-0 victory away to Whickham
Billy Greluich-Smith gave Shildon the perfect start nodding in a far post header with only 4 minutes on the clock.
Shildon had 2 or 3 opportunities to extend their lead but the half ended 1-0.
Billy also had a hand in the second goal when he was fouled in the penalty area. Harrison Scott was then sent off for the foul and Nathan Steel stepped up to extend the lead sending the keeper the wrong way.
Nathan Steel added his second and Shildon’s third 10 minutes later after great work from Captain for the day Aidan Heywood.
In the 92nd minute Ben Reay chipped the keeper to make it 4-0
FT Whickham 0 Shildon 4
Attendance 97
Railway Men extend unbeaten run of form
Shildon continued their unbeaten form as they cruised home to a comfortable 1-0 victory over a dogged North Shields.
The home supporters had to wait until the 56th minute for the lone goal of the contest as hometown boy Ben Trotter, slotted home a lovely curling strike from the left edge of the North Shields box to find the far corner.
It could well have been two though as the Railway Men had a goal disallowed only moments before as forward Billy Greulich-Smith found himself free in the box, burying the chance only to be ruled out for offside.
The home side were by far the better of the two all match long, as North Shields struggled to make inroads into Shildon’s half for most of the game.
An opinion shared by manager Daniel Moore at full time who said, “We stayed switched on, I think we dominated the game from start to finish”.
“I love a 1-0, clean sheet, but I said at half time just keep plugging away and it will come, and it was a great finish from Ben”.
The result now sees Shildon leap frog North Shields up into 7th still with a game in hand and manager Moore is looking for the team to use Saturday’s result as a benchmark for the remainder of the season and beyond.
“I said to them a few weeks back to finish unbeaten”.
“We go above them now, so the aim is to finish as high as possible and get into good habits looking forward to next season”.
Shildon’s attention will now switch to a trip to Whickham next Saturday in search of another three points and maintaining that unbeaten record.
Attendance: 292
Shildon ran out 3-0 winners at home to Consett and remain in 8th position in the eBac Northern League Division One
Man of the Match Zak Atkinson scored after 28mins with a well taken goal after closing a Consett defender down.
Aaron Duell then made it 2-0 10 minutes later, slotting past former Shildon stopper Kyle Hayes.
Billy Greulich-Smith made it 3-0 in the second half after some great work by Zak Atkinson.
FT Shildon 3 Consett 0
Shildon will play South Shields in the final of the Durham Challenge Cup.
Billy Greulich-Smith gave Shildon the lead after 19 minutes heading in a corner from Matty Robson. Nathan Steel & Brad Hird both had chances to extend the lead but they were saved by the Hartlepool keeper.
Hartlepool put Shildon under pressure in the second half but it was Brad Hird who finished well to give Shildon the 2-0 victory.
South Shields beat Dunston 3-1 in the other semi-final.
FT Hartlepool United 0 Shildon 2
Att : 650
10 man Sunderland RCA took all three points against Shildon at Dean Street
Kyle Davis gave RCA the perfect start after 3 minutes with a neatly taken goal. 20 minutes later Kyle was given a straight red after a foul on Matty Robson.
9 minutes later Mark Davison scored to send RCA into the break 2-0 up.
Mark Davison added his second and RCA’s 3rd 15 minutes into the second half .
Ben Trotter then gave Shildon a lifeline with a tap in 4 minutes later and in the 93rd minute Aidan Heywood headed past Scott Pocklington to make it 3-2. 2 minutes later Pocklington produced an outstanding save to deny Ben Trotter a second an secure the points for RCA
Man Of The Match : Matty Robson
Three goals in the first half sealed the points for Shildon in a windy game at Dean Street.
Zak Atkinson opened the scoring with a neat turn and finish half way through the first half. Nathan Steel added a second slotting past the Guisborough keeper 10 minutes later. Then on the stroke of half time Ben Trotter made it three with a tap in.
Matthew Lovatt scored for Guisborough in the 90th minute
FT Shildon 3 Guisborough Town 1
Mark Fitzpatrick scored the only goal of the game after 60mins to give the points to Dunston.
Shildon had a couple of chances in the first half the main one coming through a Nathan Steel volley which the goalkeeper tipped over.
After Dunston went ahead Shildon put pressure on the Dunston goal and only a good save from Daniel Moore by Karl Dryden kept the lead intact.
Shildon are into the semi final of the Durham Challenge Cup with a 6-1 victory over Consett at Dean Street.
In the squad were 9 players under the age of 21 with 17 year old Mason Hurworth impressing from the start.
Ben Trotter (9 mins) opened the scoring with a header from a Matty Robson only for Luke Carr to equalise after 22mins. Brad Hird was then fouled in the box and Billy Greulich-Smith restored the advantage.
In the second half David Palmer added the 3rd, Brad Hird the 4th and Nathan Steel the 5th. Steven Johnson then produced some great play to beat his man and set up Ben Trotter to finish the scoring.
FT Shildon 6 Consett 1
Shildon move up to 6th with a 3-2 victory at home to Seaham Red Star.
Nathan Steel scored twice in 2 minutes to give Shildon the perfect start within 10minutes. Ben Trotter then added a third just before half time.
In the second half Curtis Coppen scored and then Paul Gardiner further reduced the deficit to 3-2. Coppen was then sent off for a second yellow card.
Man of the Match : Nathan Steel
FT : Shildon 3 Seaham Red Star 2