League: ENL1

Shildon vs Whitley Bay

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

Shildon’s Early Double Sinks Whitley Bay and Sends Them Top

Shildon climbed to the top of the table with a commanding win over fourth‑placed Whitley Bay, delivering a performance full of control, intensity and purpose.

They were in front inside eight minutes, Billy Greulich‑Smith rising to plant home a trademark header and set the tone for a dominant afternoon. The pressure didn’t ease, and the lead doubled on 22 minutes when Adam Lennox arrived at the far post to nod in Shildon’s second.

Wave after wave of attacks followed, with Shildon carving out chances and threatening to put the game out of sight before the interval. Whitley Bay were hanging on, grateful to reach half‑time only two goals down.

The pattern barely shifted after the restart. Shildon continued to dictate the tempo and create opportunities, but visiting goalkeeper Mauro Asikaogu produced a string of outstanding saves to keep the score respectable. At the other end, Sam Taylor enjoyed one of the quietest afternoons of his season, finishing the match without being forced into a single stop.

The final whistle confirmed a statement victory and, with it, Shildon’s rise to the league summit for the first time this campaign.

Attendance: 322

2 vs 0

Kendal Town vs Shildon

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

A six‑goal thriller in Cumbria as Shildon miss chance to go top

Shildon were made to settle for a point on a breathless afternoon at Parkside Road, denied top spot in the table after a chaotic second half saw the lead change hands three times in the space of six minutes.

The opening 45 somehow remained goalless despite both sides carving out clear chances. Shildon’s best opportunities fell to Luke Spalding, twice sent clean through. One effort forced a sharp save; the other flew high and wide. The visitors did have the ball in the net, only for Ben Reay to be penalised for interfering with play as he stepped over the ball from an offside position.

The deadlock finally broke seven minutes into the second half. Spalding, lively throughout, delivered a teasing cross from the right and Adam Lennox rose to guide a precise header beyond the keeper. From there, the match became a full‑tilt end‑to‑end contest.

Kendal levelled on 74 minutes through DJ Taylor, despite strong Shildon appeals for offside. The visitors responded instantly: just 90 seconds later Spalding cut in from the right and drilled a low finish into the far corner to restore the lead. But Shildon’s advantage evaporated almost immediately. A defensive mix‑up saw the ball ricochet off the post, leaving Jamie Looker with the simplest of tap‑ins.

Kendal were reduced to ten men when Taylor collected a second yellow, yet the hosts struck what looked to be the decisive blow four minutes from time. Looker produced a moment of real quality, rifling a superb strike into the top corner to put Kendal 3–2 ahead.

Shildon refused to fold. Deep into stoppage time, Billy Greulich‑Smith rose highest to power home a dramatic 92nd‑minute equaliser. The visitors threw bodies forward in search of a winner, but the final whistle confirmed a draw that, on balance, felt about right.

A missed opportunity to climb to the summit, perhaps — but a pulsating contest and a performance that showed Shildon’s resilience in abundance.

Attendance: 305

3 vs 3

Harrison Bond

Shildon vs North Shields

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

Greulich‑Smith at the Double as Shildon Leave It Late

Dean Street served up another lively afternoon, and this time the home crowd were rewarded for their patience.

North Shields came out with real intent, dominating the early exchanges and pinning Shildon back. Their pressure told on 22 minutes when Reece Wanless finished a well‑worked move to give the visitors a deserved lead.

Shildon gradually found their rhythm as the half wore on, carving out a series of chances before finally breaking through on 41 minutes. Andrei Ardelean slipped a clever ball across the box, and Billy Greulich‑Smith was on hand to steer it home from close range.

The second half belonged largely to the hosts. Shildon controlled territory and tempo, though Shields did muster a brief late surge that kept the home defence honest. Just as the game looked destined for a draw, the decisive moment arrived in the 89th minute. A scramble in the six‑yard box fell kindly to Greulich‑Smith, who reacted quickest to lash in his second of the afternoon — his seventh goal in just three starts.

The win keeps Shildon firmly in the promotion hunt, sitting second and only two points off the top as the season tightens

Attendance: 315

2 vs 1

Shildon vs Birtley Town

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

Ardelean Hat-Trick Not Enough as Shildon Held in Eight-Goal Thriller

Shildon were left ruing a missed opportunity to climb to the top of the Northern League after being held to a breathless 4–4 draw by an in‑form Birtley Town side at Dean Street.

The hosts made the perfect start, taking the lead inside seven minutes. Luke Spalding was brought down by visiting goalkeeper Max Campbell, and Ciaran Banks confidently dispatched the resulting penalty. But Birtley hit back almost immediately, with Alexander Walker rising at the far post to nod home just five minutes later.

The game continued at a frantic pace. Reece Harrison put the visitors ahead midway through the half, only for Shildon to respond within a minute as Andrei Ardelean drilled in the equaliser to make it 2–2. The first half closed with both sides trading chances but unable to edge in front.

Five minutes after the restart, Ardelean struck again, bundling home from a Spalding cross to restore Shildon’s lead. They held that advantage until the 74th minute, when Lewis Exley swept in at the far post to level the match once more.

Birtley then stunned the home crowd by taking the lead for a second time, James Procter firing past Sam Taylor with 10 minutes remaining. But the drama was far from over. Straight from the restart, Ardelaen burst through the defence to complete his hat‑trick and haul Shildon back to 4–4.

The Railwaymen piled forward in the closing stages, forcing a succession of corners, but Birtley held firm to secure a point in what was a superb advert for Northern League football. On balance, a draw felt the fairest outcome—though Shildon will know it was a chance missed in their push for top spot.

Attendance: 320

4 vs 4