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Tag: Billy Greulich-Smith
Durham Challenge Cup 3rd Round Result
Shildon AFC are through to the semi final of the Durham Challenge Cup after a comfortable 5 – 0 away win at Hartlepool FC on Saturday 7th February 2015.
It was one way traffic from the kick off with the Railwaymen passing the ball around at leisure, taking the lead on 17 minutes when a Billy Greulich-Smith header was knocked onto the bar by keeper Callum Hudson, rebounding back out for Micky Rae to head home.
Shortly after it was 2 – 0 when a Micky Rae cross found Billy Greulich-Smith who headed in from close range.
It was constant Shildon pressure but Micky Rae, Billy Greulich-Smith and Ben Wood all failed to add to the score.
Half Time: Hartlepool FC 0 Shildon AFC 2
It was all Shildon in the 2nd half and just after the hour Lee Chapman’s free kick gave keeper Hudson no chance.
On 72 minutes Ben Wood made it 4 – 0 firing into the bottom corner and then a brilliant strike from 25 yards by Jack Taylor made it 5 – 0.
Final Score: Hartlepool FC 0 Shildon AFC 5
Goalscorers: Rae 17, Greulich-Smith 19, Chapman 64, Wood 72, Taylor 79.
Subs: Taylor for Scroggins 64, Doninger for Rae 68
After the match manager Gary Forrest said “This was a comfortable win”.
Team
1) Kyle Hayes
2) Jamie Harwood
3) Lee Chapman
4) Sam Hodgson
5) Liam Atkin
6) Daniel Moore
7) Chris Emms
8) Lee Scroggins
9) Michael Rae
10) Ben Wood
11) Billy Greulich-Smith
Subs
12) Paul Connor
14) Mark Doninger on for Rae
15) John Brackstone
16) Jack Taylor
17) Darren Craddock
Goals
Michael Rae
Ben Wood
Billy Greulich-Smith
Lee Chapman
Jack Taylor
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.
Newton Aycliffe 1 Shildon 2
Newton Aycliffe 1 Shildon 2
Goals : Billy Gruelich-Smith 2
Yellows : Brackstone, Moore, Jones
Team
1) Kyle Hayes
2) Sam Hodgson
3) John Brackstone
4) Chris Emms
5) Carl Jones
6) Darren Craddock (C)
7) Daniel Moore
8) Lee Scroggins
9) Michael Rae
10) Ben Wood
11) Billy Greulich-Smith
Subs
12) Mark Hudson on for Rae
13) Jamie Harwood
14) Adam Rundle on for Emms
15) Darren Richardson
16) Craig Ruddy on for Wood
For Match Report go to Fixtures & Results then Results & Reports
Whitby V Shildon
An Excellent Win
Shildon AFC progressed to the 2nd Qualifying Round of the F.A. Cup after an excellent 2 – 1 away win against Whitby Town on Wednesday 17th September. The teams had played a 1 – 1 draw at Dean Street on Saturday 13th September.
Shildon were well on top in the 1st half and missed a penalty on 20 minutes when Micky Rae was brought down in the box. With star penalty taken Mark Hudson not playing, Micky Rae took the kick himself, but his shot was weak and the keeper saved comfortably.
The Railwaymen deservedly took the lead when Ben Wood crossed for Billy Greulich-Smith to score from close range.
With only a minute remaining of the 1st half Whitby were level when a defensive error let David McTiernan free and he beat keeper Lewis Grahm.
Half Time: Whitby Town 1 Shildon AFC 1
Early in the 2nd half Whiltby’s Lee Mason hit the bar and Shildon had a couple of chances, but just after the hour Ben Wood broke down the right and crossed for Micky Rae to score the winner with an overhead kick.
Shildon could have added further goals before the end but man-of-the-match keeper Shane Bland pulled off some good saves.
Final Score: Whitby Town 1 Shildon AFC 2
Goalscorers: Greulich-Smith 29, Rae 63.
Subs: Rae for Connor 5, Rundle for Emms 75, Richmond for Greulich-Smith 87.
Man-of-the-Match: Daniel Moore
After the match manager Gary Forrest said “A good all-round team performance. We were very rarely threatened and we controlled the play. Their man-of-the-match for both games was their keeper Shane Bland, that should tell you something”.
Pictures courtesy of Tom Clegg and are available to view on Flickr
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Shildon V Whitby
Shildon AFC entertained Whitby Town at Dean Street in the F.A. Cup on Saturday 13th September and were annoyed with themselves for failing to see off the visitors, drawing 1-1.
Early pressure came from Whitby with No 9 Craig Farrell heading wide. Shildon responded and Paul Connor was put through but he blasted over, the best chance of the game so far.
On 29 minutes the Railwaymen took the lead when a Chris Emms corner was headed out to Ben Wood, whose long range brilliant volley crashed into the roof of the net.
Whitby pressed forward and No 11 Liam Shepperd rounded Daniel Moore and his low drive found the net for the seasider’s equaliser.
The outstanding action of the 1st half was when Whitby’s manager deliberately hoofed the ball high over Shildon’s stand and out of the ground! Half Time: Shildon AFC 1 Whitby Town 1.
On 49 minutes Paul Connor beat the off-side trap, rounded the keeper and stroked the ball towards the empty net, only to be thwarted by a clearance off the line by a defender.
More pressure from Shildon followed with Ben Wood firing over the bar and the keeper saving from Lee Scroggins. A great five man Shildon move saw Chris Emms hit the post with the keeper beaten. Shildon were dominant, not holding back, pressing for the winner, but despite Whitby not having one shot on target in the whole of the 2nd half, the game still ended 1 – 1.
After the match manager Gary Forrest said, “The game was even in the 1st half, but we controlled the 2nd half and should have won the game”.
* Taken from Shildon Town Crier
Also, pictures courtesy of Brian Murfield can be viewed here http://tinyurl.com/ogqgy43
Pictures courtesy of Tom Clegg and are available to view on Flickr
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Tow Law 2-5 Shildon
The close season officially ended today for the Railwaymen and their hosts, Tow Law Town, and for Shildon the new season began with a five star display at the Ironworks.
Shildon dominated possession and took a two goal first half lead before some lax defending allowed the Lawyers back into the game with two cheap replies.
But the Railwaymen got back on track and scored three more without reply to open their 2014-15 season with a thoroughly deserved 5-2 win.
Two of Shildon’s four close season signings made debut starts, with the returning Daniel ‘Bobby’ Moore in centre midfield and Adam Rundle on the left wing both performing well.
The Durham Challenge Cup winners were on the front foot from the kick off but it took until the 25th minute for Billy Greulich-Smith – the county cup goal hero – to open the scoring with a simple tap in after good work down the right side.
In the 40th minute the lead was doubled when Paul Connor, who looked dangerous throughout the first half, cut inside on the right before curling a left-footed shot past the keeper’s right hand and into the far corner of the net.
But what looked like a straightforward victory was complicated by slack defending either side of the first half.
Just before the break a simple through ball put Scott Thomson clear, and with the defence static, the midfielder has the simplest of tasks to lob the ball over the onrushing Lewis Graham in the Shildon goal.
And just after the break, confusion in the Shildon defence was followed by confusion over the outcome of Simon Ord’s cross-cum-chip, which fortuitously sailed over Lewis Graham and into the far corner of the net. At first it appeared to have been ruled out for a foul, but the referee then seemed to change his mind and award the equalising goal after all.
The goal came as Shildon’s second half substitutes were still finding their feet, but Shildon took the lead again after Sam Garvie had his taken from under him by Tow Law’s keeper. Mark Hudson stepped up to coolly slot home the resultant penalty, sending the keeper the wrong way (pictured above).
It was then the turn of Michael Rae to score his first Shildon goal on his second half debut. Shildon’s forwards pressed the Tow Law defence into losing the ball before sending Rae through to slide the ball easily past the keeper for Shildon’s fourth.
Shildon were playing some scintillating passing football on this hot Saturday afternoon and had two goals ruled out for narrow offside decisions. Both deserved reward for the excellent build-up play that preceded them.
But there was time yet for the Railwaymen to add a fifth goal. Another excellent move down the right culminated in a 16 yard drive by Sam Hodgson which nestled in the corner of the net and saw Shildon off to a comfortable start to their pre-season.
Next up will be a sterner test at Blyth Spartans on Tuesday evening before the side’s first home friendly next Friday – a rematch from last season as Scottish League One side Stranraer visit Dean Street.
Shildon: Graham, Harwood, Richardson, Craddock, Brackstone, Moore, Ruddy, Hudson, Rundle, Greulich-Smith, Connor. Subs: Emms, Rae, Wood, Garvie Hodgson, Atkin (unused).
Shildon are Champions!
The 41-year wait is over and Shildon AFC are once more Champions of Durham!
A stunning late comeback with two Billy Greulich-Smith goals snatched the Durham FA Challenge Cup from Spennymoor Town’s grasp at Central Avenue Stadium in Billingham this lunchtime.
Spennymoor took a 1-0 lead into the interval when Keith Graydon scored just before the break and it must have looked like their name was on the cup when Ben Wood’s goal just after the restart was ruled out for offside.
With 15 minutes remaining, Spennymoor could have wrapped the match up, but the woodwork prevented them doubling their lead.
It was a chink of hope for Shildon, and with just eight minutes remaining, the Railwaymen forced their way back into the game when Billy Greulich-Smith equalised.
And with extra time looming, up popped Billy again to turn the game on its head and give Shildon the lead with seconds remaining!
The three minutes of injury time were the longest in many a Shildon fan’s lifetime, but there was no way back for Spennymoor and when the referee blew the final whistle, Shildon were crowned champions of Durham!
The fans and players will undoubtedly celebrate well into the night and will be looking to ensure it is not another 41 years before the feat is repeated!
For now, congratulations to Gary, Stuart, Phil, Keith, Dean and Amy and all the lads for a magnificent effort and thank you to all the fans who turned out to support the side, as well as all the fans looking out for updates around the world on a day that will be written permanently into the history of Shildon Football Club.
And in case you all missed it first time around, here it is again: Shildon are the 2013-14 Durham Challenge Cup Champions!
After the game, Wilf Tray caught up with the winning goalscorer, Billy Grulich-Smith and manager Gary Forrest. This is what they had to say:
https://shildonafc.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Billy-Gary.mp3
Billingham Town v Shildon AFC
Highlights of Shildon’s 8-0 away win at bottom club, Billingham Town, including a second half hat trick from Billy Greulich-Smith:
Gary Forrest interview
Gary Forrest explains why he is £20 worse off after Shildon win 8-0 at Billingham Town to remain in the title hunt:
Shildon AFC v Spennymoor Town
Highlights of Shildon’s top of the table clash with Spennymoor Town at Dean Street on Saturday 8 February 2014. Shildon took a 1-0 lead into the half time break after Mark Hudson’s opener, but eventually accepted a 1-1 draw after being reduced to ten men on 70 minutes and conceding an equaliser with 15 minutes remaining. But the Railwaymen held on for a deserved draw to remain second in the league table.