MATCH REPORT BY WILF TRAY _{(edited by Michael Wilson)}

Ardelaen’s Five-Star Showing Powers Shildon to Cup Triumph

Shildon AFC cruised into the next round of the Durham Challenge Cup with a commanding 9–0 victory over Wearside League side Brandon United at Dean Street on Tuesday night.

Despite fielding a heavily rotated starting XI, the Railwaymen showed no signs of vulnerability, dismantling their opponents with ruthless efficiency. Leading the charge was Andrei Ardelaen, who delivered a scintillating five-goal haul in a man-of-the-match performance that left Brandon’s defence in tatters.

Luke Spalding and Dan Smith each netted twice to complete the scoring, while Shildon could even afford a missed penalty—Brandon goalkeeper Aidan Gill denying Ashton Houlahan from the spot with a fine save.

The tie was effectively over by half-time, with Shildon racing to a 7–0 lead. To their credit, the visitors dug deep in the second half, limiting the damage to just two further goals and showing commendable resilience in the face of overwhelming pressure.
With the cup tie safely navigated, attention now turns to a top-of-the-table clash this weekend as Shildon travel to Guisborough for a pivotal 1st vs 2nd showdown in the league.

Attendance: 152