1 vs 0 
Recap
PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL
MATCH REPORT BY WILF TRAY (edited by Michael Wilson)
Harris Sends Railwaymen Into the Final
Shildon booked their place in next Saturday’s playoff final after edging past Boro Rangers in a tense, high‑stakes contest that delivered far more entertainment than the occasion usually allows.
The Railwaymen controlled much of the first half, moving the ball well and pinning Rangers back for long spells, but despite their pressure they couldn’t find the breakthrough before the interval.
The second half opened up dramatically. Harrison Bond was twice called into action with sharp saves, while at the other end Andrei Ardelaen came agonisingly close, his glancing header crashing against the post.
The decisive moment arrived on 66 minutes. Billy Greulich‑Smith whipped in a teasing cross from the right, and Leighton Harris arrived perfectly at the far post to guide it home, sparking relief and celebration around Dean Street.
From there, Shildon showed composure and discipline, defending with real organisation to see out a narrow but fully deserved victory.
A hard‑earned win — and now a final showdown with West Auckland awaits.
Details
| Date | Time | League | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 25, 2026 | 3:00 pm | ENL1 | 2025-26 |
Results
| Club | Own Goals | 1st Half | 2nd Half | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shildon | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Boro Rangers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Shildon
| # | Player | Position | Captain | Goals | Yellow Cards | Red Cards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harrison Bond | Goalkeeper | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Leighton Harris | Midfielder | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Ciaran Banks | Defender | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| David Vincent | Midfielder | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Gary Brown | Defender | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Thomas Price | Defender | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Joe Posthill | Midfielder | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Jon Weirs | Midfielder | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Andrei Ardelean | Forward | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Billy Greulich-Smith | Forward | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Luke Spalding | Midfielder | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Alfie Marriott | Defender | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Ethan Scott | Defender | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Benjamin Reay | Midfielder | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Adam Lennox | Forward | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Bradley Hughes | Midfielder | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Goalkeeper Coach: David Howe
Coach: David Pounder
Coach: Craig Hughes
First Team Manager: Chris Hughes
Physiotherapist: Dylan Stobbs
Boro Rangers
| Position | Captain | Goals | Yellow Cards | Red Cards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |