A Disappointing Result

Shildon AFC are out of the F.A. Vase after a disappointing 4th Round tie defeated 4 – 1 at home against Atherton Collieries on Saturday 7th January 2017.

In front of a big crowd, which included a large number of vocal and colourful away supporters, all knowing that  victory for either side would leave their club within three rounds of the final at Wembley Stadium.

Favourites Shildon started brightly with Anth Bell just failing in the 1st minute.

On 7 minutes Micky Rae headed just wide, before the same player saw his looping header cleared off the line with the keeper beaten.

The Railwaymen continued to dominate possession thoughout the half but a well organised Atherton defence survived the pressure.

Half Time:  Shildon AFC  0  Atherton Collieries  0

It seemed however as if a goal was all Shildon needed to open the floodgates, so when Amar Purewal latched on to a Lewis Wing through ball to slot home on 57 minutes, the relief around the ground echoed the feeling that a home goal might see Shildon take control.

However, just two minutes later Shildon’s keeper had a rush of blood, came out of his area and headed the ball straight to Ben Hardcastle who gleefully returned it into the empty net.

The goal appeared to signal panic in the Shildon players who seemed incapable of deciding whether to stick or twist. Atherton who had until then been happy to play at a pedestrian pace in the hope of taking the tie to a replay, steeped up the gears and ruthlessly exposed the fragility and lack of pace of the Shildon defence.

Two minutes later the visitors were in front when Mark Battersby nodded home a Mark Truffas cross, and just 10 minutes after taking the lead,Shildon were three down after more Keystone Cops defending saw a speculative high header by Danny Lafferty float past keeper Nick Liversedge and Anth Bell, who both stood there.

Shildon’s miserable exit was confirmed when Jordan Cover scored a breakaway goal with just 2 minutes remaining.

Final Score:  Shildon AFC  1  Atherton Collieries  4

Goalscorer:  Purewal 57

Subs:  Greulich-Smith for Rae 72, Dodds for Hodgson 72, Connor for Purewal 84.

Man-of-the-Match:  There wasn’t one.

A very disappointing result, due to dreadful defending and the lack of fight and passion. After Atherton scored Shildon never once threatened their goal. It appeared as though they had given up.