League: ENL1

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

3 vs 1

Joe Posthill

SPONSOR:

NEIL CLEASBY

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

3 vs 2

Penrith vs Shildon

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

Shildon Held to Frustrating Draw as League Leaders Slip

Shildon AFC missed a golden chance to close the gap at the top of the table, settling for a 0–0 draw on a day when the league leaders faltered elsewhere. It was a match brimming with missed opportunities and late drama, but ultimately, neither side could find the decisive edge.

The Railwaymen carved out the better chances across the ninety minutes, but a combination of wasteful finishing and resolute defending from Penrith kept the scoreboard level. Both teams had spells of dominance, yet neither could convert pressure into three points.

The game’s flashpoint came in the final ten minutes when Penrith were reduced to ten men following a sin bin dismissal. Shildon pressed for a winner, sensing blood, but the breakthrough never came. Then, in the dying seconds, Ciaran Banks was booked for a last-ditch tackle that had the home crowd baying for red. The referee, unmoved, deemed defensive cover sufficient and stuck with yellow.

In truth, Shildon will feel this was one that got away—but given the late scare, they might also count themselves fortunate not to have lost. A draw, frustrating as it may be, was probably the fairest outcome.

Attendance: 196

0 vs 0

Shildon vs Thornaby

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

SHILDON WEATHER THE STORM TO CLAIM VICTORY ON DEAN STREET’S NEW TURF

On a day when the wind howled through Dean Street like a runaway freight train, Shildon AFC delivered a gutsy, wind-assisted performance to mark their return with a 3–1 win and all three points.With 502 hardy souls braving the brutal conditions, it took just 14 minutes for the Railwaymen to christen the new pitch. Billy Greulich Smith threaded a clever ball through to Adam Lennox, who made no mistake, slotting past the keeper to open the scoring.

With the gale at their backs, Shildon pressed hard throughout the first half, carving out multiple chances but failing to convert. The scoreline remained 1–0 at the break, though it could easily have been more.

Turning into the wind for the second half, Shildon showed resilience and control. In the 56th minute, Ben Reay found space in a congested box and rifled a low shot into the corner to double the lead.

The visitors clawed one back in the 80th minute when a long ball caught the home defence off guard. Charlie Twinn latched onto it and coolly lobbed Kiaran Hunter to make it 2–1, setting up what looked to be a nervy finale.

But Shildon weren’t done. With two minutes left on the clock, Nathan Greenwood sealed the win, beating the keeper at his near post to make it 3–1 and send the home crowd into raptures.

It was a performance full of grit and flashes of quality in hurricane-like conditions—a fitting way to kick off the next chapter at Dean Street.

Next up, Shildon take a brief pause from league duties as they begin their Durham Challenge Cup defence away at Sunderland RCA on Tuesday nig

Attendance: 502

3 vs 1

Whickham vs Shildon

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

SHILDON STORM TO VICTORY IN WIND-SWEPT ROUT

Shildon AFC turned on the style in blustery conditions, sweeping aside their hosts with a commanding 5–0 win on a pitch that could only be described as “very bobbly”, unpredictable, and unforgiving.

It took just five minutes for the Railwaymen to lay down a marker. Luke Spalding, electric from the off, burst through the defence and coolly slotted past the keeper to open the scoring. Barely sixty seconds later, déjà vu struck as Spalding repeated the feat—same run, same finish, same result. 2–0 and cruising.
Despite Shildon’s dominance, goalkeeper Kiaran Hunter was called into action with a pair of smart saves to preserve the clean sheet, reminding the travelling support that the wind could turn at any moment.

The second half saw no let-up. On 52 minutes, a slick move down the right flank saw Max Allen whip in a pinpoint cross for skipper Jon Weirs, who made no mistake from close range. Three minutes later, Ciaran Banks added his name to the scoresheet with a thunderous strike that left the home keeper rooted.

Spalding capped off a sensational afternoon with his third—completing a well-earned hat-trick in the 65th minute. Shildon could have added more, squandering several chances to pad their goal difference, but the job was done.

In swirling winds and tricky terrain, this was a performance full of grit, flair, and ruthless efficiency. Shildon march on.

Attendance: 207

0 vs 5

Birtley Town vs Shildon

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

Last-Gasp Glory as Shildon Edge Birtley Town in Dramatic Finish

Shildon left it late but ultimately claimed a well-earned three points on Tuesday night, snatching a 2–1 victory over Birtley Town thanks to a stoppage-time strike from Luke Spalding.

It was a night of near misses and mounting frustration for the Railwaymen, who rattled the woodwork five times and squandered a string of golden opportunities. Ben Reay, Andrei Ardelaen, and Billy Greulich-Smith all went close early on before Reay finally broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute, racing clear and slotting coolly into the corner.

Birtley responded with a spirited spell before the interval but failed to seriously test Shildon keeper Kiaran Hunter. Shildon had a strong penalty appeal waved away early in the second half, and Ardelaen blazed over when clean through as the chances continued to pile up.

The hosts found their equaliser on the hour mark, Liam Thear rising to nod past Hunter and set up a tense finale. Shildon threw everything forward in the dying stages, and just when it looked like their profligacy might prove costly, Spalding delivered the killer blow in the 92nd minute, rifling home to spark jubilant celebrations.

The win lifts Shildon to fifth in the table, with games in hand on all four sides above them. Next up: a trip to botom club Whickham on Saturday, where the Railwaymen will look to keep their momentum rolling.

Attendance: 162

1 vs 2

Whitley Bay vs Shildon

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

Shildon Left to Rue Missed Chances in Whitley Bay Defeat

Shildon AFC produced a spirited display on Saturday but were ultimately undone by defensive lapses and a goalkeeping masterclass, falling 2–0 to Whitley Bay in a frustrating afternoon at Hillheads Park.

The Railwaymen dominated possession for large stretches and carved out a series of promising openings, yet couldn’t find a way past Whitley Bay’s inspired shot-stopper. The visiting keeper earned his Man of the Match honours with a string of superb saves, denying Shildon time and again with reflexes that kept his side in control.

Despite their attacking intent, Shildon were punished for moments of carelessness at the back. Twice they surrendered possession in dangerous areas, and twice Whitley Bay capitalised—clinical finishes that proved decisive.

Speaking after the match, Shildon manager Chris Hughes remained upbeat. “I can’t fault the lads’ effort today,” he said. “We’ve just got to take it on the chin and move on.”

With no fixture midweek, attention now turns to the FA Vase. Shildon will face Longridge Town FC in what promises to be a pivotal tie in their cup campaign, the fixture is to be played at the Sir Tom Cowie Millfield Ground, Crook.

Attendance: 409