League: ENL1

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Guisborough Town vs Shildon

MATCH REPORT BY WILF TRAY (edited by Michael Wilson)

Shildon Fall Short in Seven-Goal Showdown

Shildon AFC were edged out in a pulsating top-of-the-table clash at the KGV Stadium, falling 4–3 to Guisborough Town in a match packed with drama, controversy, and no shortage of attacking flair.

The Railwaymen roared out of the blocks, taking a 2–0 lead inside 13 minutes. Luke Spalding’s surging run and pinpoint cross found Joe Posthill at the far post for the opener, before Tom Price rifled a stunning strike into the top corner from the edge of the box.

Guisborough responded swiftly, with Toluwani Osiyemi nodding past Sam Taylor to halve the deficit. The game’s turning point came in the 37th minute when Shildon’s Sam Hodgson was controversially dismissed for violent conduct—though post-match footage cast doubt on the decision.

The hosts capitalised on the man advantage, winning a penalty in first-half stoppage time which Kurtis Howe coolly converted to level the scores at the break.

Despite being down to ten men, Shildon showed grit and regained the lead early in the second half. Andrei Ardelaen was felled in the box and Ciaran Banks made no mistake from the spot. But the Priorymen clawed their way back once more, Matty Willshaw curling home an equaliser before Howe bagged his brace to make it 4–3.

Shildon pressed for a late leveller and came agonisingly close, but their hopes were dashed when captain Jon Weirs was sent off for dissent in the dying moments. Guisborough were awarded a third penalty deep into stoppage time, but the goal was chalked off much to the confusement of the crowd, leaving the final score at 4–3.

It was a match that had everything—goals, cards, penalties, and controversy—and Shildon will feel hard done by not to have taken something from it. They now turn their attention to Tuesday night’s League Cup tie away at Alnwick Town.

Attendance: 466

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Shildon vs Horden C.W.

MATCH REPORT BY WILF TRAY (edited by Michael Wilson)

Two Reds, Three Goals, One Big Win for Shildon

Shildon surged into second place in the table with a commanding 3–1 win over Horden CW, in a match that saw early drama, clinical finishing, and a second-half meltdown from the visitors.

It was Horden who came flying out of the traps, rattling the woodwork twice inside the opening 60 seconds to stun the Dean Street faithful. But their early dominance was short-lived. Shildon weathered the storm and struck first blood in the 9th minute—Joe Posthill delivering a pinpoint cross for Jon Weirs to nod home and ignite the home crowd.

The game ebbed and flowed with both sides trading blows, but it was the Railwaymen who doubled their advantage in the 27th minute. Ciaran Banks burst into the box, exchanged a slick one-two with Ben Reay, and coolly slotted past the keeper to make it 2–0.

Shildon tightened their grip after the break, and just nine minutes into the second half, Leighton Harris unleashed a thunderbolt from distance that arrowed into the top corner—3–0 and cruising.

Horden briefly threatened a revival when Philly Angus pulled one back in the 59th minute, but any hopes of a comeback were dashed almost immediately. Taylor Campbell saw red for a reckless lunge on Harris, and moments later, Ben Henderson followed him down the tunnel for a stamp on Weirs as Horden’s discipline unravelled.

With a two-man advantage, Shildon carved out chance after chance but couldn’t add to their tally. Still, the final whistle confirmed a well-earned three points in a match far more one-sided than the scoreline suggests.

Attendance: 366

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Marske United vs Shildon

MATCH REPORT BY WILF TRAY (edited by Michael Wilson)

Banks at the Double as Shildon Beat Marske

In blustery conditions on the North Yorkshire coast, Shildon AFC battled both the elements and a combative Marske United side to secure a hard-earned 3–1 victory and three valuable points.

The Railwaymen nearly made the perfect start inside the opening minute when Billy Greulich-Smith’s sharp snapshot forced a fine save from the Marske goalkeeper. Moments later, Greulich-Smith rose highest from a corner but couldn’t keep his header down.

Despite Shildon’s early pressure, it was the hosts who struck first. In their first meaningful attack, Marske capitalised on a controversial corner — with strong claims of obstruction on the Shildon keeper — as Tommy Marron bundled the ball home to make it 1–0.

Undeterred, Shildon continued to press and were rewarded on the half-hour mark. A slick move released Ciaran Banks into the box, where he was brought down. Banks dusted himself off and coolly converted the penalty, sending the keeper the wrong way to level the score.

Just three minutes later, Shildon were awarded a second spot-kick when Leighton Harris was clattered by the Marske keeper. Banks stepped up again and repeated the trick to put the visitors 2–1 ahead.

Shildon dominated the second half but were guilty of spurning several clear chances. The decisive moment came in the 80th minute when Luke Spalding broke free and slotted past the keeper to seal the win.

A deserved three points and a solid showing on the road.

Attendance: 245

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Shildon vs Newcastle Benfield

MATCH REPORT BY WILF TRAY (edited by Michael Wilson)

Posthill Hat-Trick Powers Shildon to Victory Over Benfield

Shildon AFC cruised to a 3–1 win over Newcastle Benfield at Dean Street on Wednesday night, with debutant Joe Posthill stealing the headlines after a blistering first-half hat-trick.

The Railwaymen dominated proceedings from the outset, and it was Posthill—signed just days earlier—who lit up the evening with a dream debut. He broke the deadlock in the 21st minute, turning home a pinpoint cross from Luke Spalding to re-open his Shildon account. Just two minutes later, he doubled the lead, latching onto a clever through ball from Jon Weirs and calmly slotting past the onrushing keeper.

Posthill’s third came in the 32nd minute, capitalising on a defensive mix-up between Benfield’s goalkeeper and centre-half to tap into an empty net and complete a sensational hat-trick inside eleven minutes.

Unfortunately, his night ended prematurely when he limped off just moments into the second half. Speaking after the match, Posthill revealed he’d felt a twinge during the warm-up that worsened during the interval. “It tightened up at half-time,” he said, “but hopefully it’s nothing serious.”

Despite a flurry of missed chances, Shildon remained in control throughout. Benfield pulled one back in the 66th minute through Jack Watson, but it proved little more than a consolation as the hosts continued to press until the final whistle.

The win sees Shildon extend their momentum, and they’ll be eyeing another three points this Saturday when they travel to struggling Marske United, currently second-bottom in the table.

Attendance: 290

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Easington Colliery vs Shildon

MATCH REPORT BY WILF TRAY (edited by Michael Wilson)

Wednesday Night Heartbreak at Welfare Park

Shildon’s hopes of climbing the table were dashed once again by their perennial nemesis, Easington Colliery, in a midweek encounter that saw the Railwaymen slump to a 3–2 defeat — despite a spirited second-half fightback.

The visitors were second-best for much of the opening 45, delivering arguably their poorest half of the season. Easington took full advantage on 27 minutes when a speculative long-range strike was spilled by Sam Taylor, allowing ex-Shildon forward Brad Hird to pounce and lash the rebound into the roof of the net.

Bereft of attacking spark, Shildon failed to register a single shot on target before the break, trailing 1–0 at the interval.

Things went from bad to worse just six minutes into the second half. A corner from the right found Ethan Ord completely unmarked, and the Easington man made no mistake, thundering home a header to double the lead.

But Shildon finally stirred. In the 55th minute, Ciaran Banks sliced through the defence, exchanged passes with Luke Spalding, and coolly slotted home to reduce the deficit. Just two minutes later, Banks struck again — robbing a defender near the corner flag before driving into the box and firing past the keeper to level the scores.

With momentum swinging their way, Shildon pressed for a winner. Billy Greulich-Smith and Nathan Greenwood both went close, but couldn’t convert.

Then came the sucker punch. A rare Easington break saw their striker halted in the box by Max Allen, and the referee pointed to the spot. Up stepped Hird, who sent Taylor the wrong way to claim his brace and restore the home side’s lead in the 73rd minute.

There was no way back for Shildon, who not only left empty-handed but also picked up injuries to Andrei Ardelaen and Gary Brown — adding insult to injury on a bruising night in County Durham.

Next up, is a break from league action as Shildon head to Manchester for an FA Vase clash with Irlam this weekend.

Attendance: 239

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