BROOKS MILESON MEMORIAL LEAGUE CUP

QUARTER FINAL

FULL TIME:  SHILDON AFC 1 – 1 WEST AUCKLAND TOWN FC

SHILDON WIN 5-4 ON PENALTIES

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

Harris Delivers Decisive Spot‑Kick as Shildon Win Dramatic Cup Tie

Shildon booked their place in yet another semi‑final after a tense 1-1 draw with West Auckland was settled by a nerve‑shredding 5-4 penalty shootout at Dean Street.

This was a cup tie played with full commitment from both sides. The first half offered plenty of endeavour but little in the way of clear chances, until the 37th minute when West struck. Jaedon Faulkner burst through the Shildon back line and finished smartly to give the visitors the advantage.

Shildon came out after the break with purpose and were rewarded on 58 minutes. Ben Reay was hauled down in the box, and Adam Lennox stepped up to bury the resulting penalty and level the contest. From there, the game opened up, with both teams carving out opportunities to win it. The best fell deep into stoppage time, when Finley O’Gorman rose to meet a cross but headed over with the goal at his mercy.

With the sides still locked at 1-1, the tie moved to penalties. West seized the early momentum when Lennox struck the post with Shildon’s first kick. But the shootout swung dramatically as goalkeeper Harrison Bond produced two superb saves to deny Cobi Jones and O’Gorman. That handed substitute Leighton Harris the chance to seal it. He kept his composure, and although the keeper got a hand to his effort, the ball found the net to spark Shildon celebrations.

A hard-fought contest, a dramatic finish, and another semi-final awaits the Railwaymen

ATTENDANCE:  202