League Cup Preview

By Archie MacKay from the Shildon Football Club Facebook Page

Having managed to get a league game under their belt at the weekend, the Railwaymen return to cup action tonight as they revisit pre-season friendly opponents Tow Law Town in the League Cup.

The sides met during the summer in their first outing of the pre-season with Shildon eventually running out comfortable winners after being pegged back by the second division side either side of the half time interval.

Shildon progressed in the FA Vase and Durham Challenge Cup in recent games and almost reached the first round proper of the FA Cup and while cup success means fixture congestion, Shildon will be in no mood to be on the wrong end of a cup upset.

As with last week’s County Cup tie, Gary Forrest may see the match as an opportunity to test the depth of his squad. Kick off at the Ironworks will be 7.30pm.

Celtic Nation Result ENL 1

A Comfortable Win

Shildon AFC finally played a league game on Saturday 8th November 2014 when they entertained Celtic Nation and were worthy 4- 1 winners. After six cup ties from their last eight games, the Railwaymen were keen to get back into league action. They took an early lead on 7 minutes when Ben Wood hooked the ball home through a crowd of players in the box. Minutes later a Micky Rae cross was put through his own goal by Tyler Bowman for 2 – 0. It was one way traffic in the 2nd half and just after the hour man-of- the-match John Brackstone’s curling free kick from outside the box gave keeper Andy Casson no chance. With 3 minutes remaining Celtic’s No 9 Jonathan Allan pulled a goal back, but Shildon restored the 3 goal lead just before the final whistle when a long cross from Adam Rundle was headed in by Paul Connor.

Final Score:  Shildon AFC  4  Celtic Nation  1

Goalscorers:  Wood 7,Own Goal, Brackstone 62, Connor 90.

Bookings:  (Y) Moore  36.

Subs: Rundle for Wood 66, Connor for Rae 68, Chapman for Emms 76.

Man-of-the-Match:  John Brackstone.

 

Team

1) Kyle Hayes

2) Jamie Harwood

3) Darren Richardson

4) Mark Hudson

5) Darren Craddock

6) John Brackstone

7) Daniel Moore

8) Mark Doninger

9) Michael Rae

10) Ben Wood

11) Chris Emms

12) Paul Connor on for Rae

14) Sam Hodgson

15) Lee Chapman on for Emms

16) Liam Atkin

17) Adam Rundle on for Wood

 

Goals : Wood, Emms, Connor, Own Goal

 

Pictures Courtesy of Tom Clegg

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Celtic Nation ENL1 Preview

By Archie MacKay

Almost exactly two months ago, on Wednesday 10th September, Shildon won an entertaining midweek game by the odd goal in five against Division One newcomers, North Shields. It was the last time the Railwayman played a home match in the Northern League.

In the intervening fourteen games, the side has played just four league matches, all of which were on their travels. Tomorrow league action returns at last to Dean Street with last season’s runners up, Celtic Nation, the visitors.

The Cumbrian club have experienced a fairy tale ride like no other non-league side over the past couple of seasons, transforming from rags to riches, only to return equally rapidly to the traditional togs of semi-professional strugglers.

When the club, financed by American-dwelling Scots-Irish multi-millionaire, Frank Lynch failed to capitalise on their cash and star player injection by winning promotion, the money dried up, the club was sold back to former chairman Steve Skinner, players moved on and the hardcore of the club was left to pick up the pieces and build again for this season.

It has proved a testing time for the Nation, who have struggled to come to terms with their fall from superstardom. Forced to rebuild late in the pre-season they currently languish in 18th place in the league but remain capable of causing trouble to any side, as 3rd placed Dunston learned to their cost in midweek.

Shildon could do worse than keep Nation’s 1-0 win on Tuesday night at the forefront of their minds tomorrow as they look to pick up points in their own campaign to win this year’s title; the visitors’ afflictions should not be taken as a guarantee of an easy time for the Railwaymen.

Billy Greulich-Smith remains a doubt as he recovers from an injury sustained at Stourbridge in the FA Cup. Carl Jones has also been recovering from a knock but is close to full fitness. Several members of the squad who have not been featuring recently received a run out in the 4-0 away win in the Durham Challenge Cup in midweek and Chris Emms in particular made a strong case for inclusion this weekend.

Tomorrow also sees Shildon AFC Development Centre’s Under 10s enjoy a matchday experience at Dean Street as special guests of the first team. The youngsters will lead their senior colleagues onto the pitch prior to kick off. Please show them your support.

Kick off tomorrow is at 3pm. Admission is £6 adults, £4 concessions and under 12s are admitted free with a paying adult.

Durham Challenge Cup 1st Round

Collage

Pictures by Tom Clegg

 

Shildon progressed into the 2nd round of the Durham Challenge Cup after a 4-0 win away to Ashbrooke Belford House. Shildon goals came from Doninger 2, Emms and Moore.

Shildon will play Durham City in the next round, date to be arranged.

Team

1) Lewis Graham

2) Sam Hodgson

3) Darren Richardson

4) Jack Taylor

5) Darren Craddock

6) Liam Atkin

7) Daniel Moore

8) Lee Chapman

9) Michael Rae

10) Mark Doninger

11) Chris Emms

12) Paul Connor on for Rae

14) Ben Wood

15) Jamie Harwood

16) Mark Hudson on for Moore

17) Rundle on for Chapman

Goals : Doninger 2, Emms, Moore

 

Durham Challenge Cup defence gets underway

by Archie MacKay

Shildon’s defence of the County Cup gets underway tonight as they visit Ashbrooke Belford House in the First Round of the tournament they won last season for the first time in over 40 years.

Two late Billy Greulich-Smith goals in the final against Spennymoor, the second in injury time, saw the Durham Challenge Cup hoisted by the Railwaymen for the first time in a generation.

If ever the old cliche of “their name was written on the cup” could be said to be true, it was surely Shildon’s name on this cup last season.

The side had to negotiate extra time in each of the first three rounds, surviving a penalty shoot-out at Norton in the first round in which Keith Finch had to save two penalties to keep Shildon in the tournament and avoid a humiliating early exit. His display was later rewarded with the Performance of the Season Award from the Supporters Club.

Further extra time wins against Seaham Red Star and Dunston were followed by a comfortable 3-1 home win against Consett in the semi-final to set up that now famous summer showdown against Spennymoor at Billingham Synthonia.

Tonight’s opponents play in the Wearside league at Silksworth Park in Sunderland. The club currently lies 10th in the Wearside League with 20 points from their 17 games played. They enter this tie on the back of two away wins in the league where they have scored seven and conceded two.

Admission to tonight’s match is just £3 adults and £1 concessions. Kick off is 7.30pm. Directions to the ground and a clickable map can be found here.

FA Vase 2nd Round Draw

Shildon will play Runcorn Town in the next round of the FA Vase after the draw was made at lunch time today. Ties due to be played 22nd November 2014.

Full Draw as follows : –

Saturday 22 November 2014
1 Bishop Auckland v 1874 Northwich_
2 Glossop North End v Bottesford or Ryhope CW
3 Alnwick Town v St Helens Town
4 Dunston UTS v Guisborough Town
5 Newcastle Benfield v Ashington
6 Marske United v Barton Town Old Boys
7 West Auckland Town v Shaw Lane Aquaforce
8 AFC Darwen v Dronfield Town
9 Shildon v Runcorn Town
10 Sunderland RCA v North Shields
11 Atherton Collieries v Seaham Red Star
12 Congleton Town v Whitley Bay
13 Consett AFC v Whickham
14 Tadcaster Albion v Morpeth Town
15 Worksop Town v Ellistown & Ibstock United
16 Bolehall Swifts v Dunkirk
17 Westfields v St Andrews
18 Wisbech Town v Cleethorpes Town
19 Thurnby Nirvana v Gornal Athletic
20 Shepshed Dynamo v AFC Mansfield
21 AFC Wulf’s or Heanor Town v Coleshill Town
22 Borrowash Victoria v Bromsgrove Sporting
23 Mickleover Royals v Willenhall Town
24 Brocton v Pegasus Juniors
25 Causeway United v Walsall Wood
26 Sun Sports v Stanway Rovers
27 London Colney v Haringey B or N’rthampton S
28 St Margaretsbury v Ipswich Wanderers
29 Peterborough Sports v Peterborough Northern Star
30 Hullbridge Sports v AFC Rushden & Diamonds
31 Holbeach United v Huntingdon Town
32 Norwich United v AFC Kempston Rovers
33 Godmanchester or Yaxley v Fakenham Town 34 Deeping Rangers v Oxhey Jets
35 AFC Dunstable v Colney Heath
36 Saffron Walden Town v Kings Langley
37 Ampthill Town v Tring Athletic
38 Wembley v Brantham Athletic
39 Great Yarmouth Town v Hadleigh United
40 Erith Town v Phoenix Sports
41 Lingfield v Chessington & Hook United
42 Horndean v Holmer Grn or Ascot Utd
43 Hassocks v Ashford United_
44 Hanworth Villa v Knaphill
45 Eastbourne United v Horley Town
46 Horsham YMCA v Erith & Belvedere
47 Farnham or Abingdon U v Littlehampton Town
48 East Preston v Flackwell Heath
49 Westfield v Tunbridge Wells
50 Pagham v Colliers Wood United
51 United Services Portsmouth v AFC Portchester
52 Fisher or Crawley D v Greenwich Borough
53 Newport (IW) v Loxwood 15:00 54 Alresford Town v Thame United
55 Odd Down v Hallen
56 Verwood Town v Plymouth Parkway
57 Folland Sports v AFC St Austell
58 Buckland Athletic v Bristol Manor Farm
59 Chippenham Park v Bradford Town
60 Blackfield & Langley v Bemerton Heath Harlequins
61 Melksham Town v Slimbridge AFC
62 Bodmin Town v St Blazey
63 Highworth Town v Bridport
64 Shepton Mallet AFC v Welton Rovers