Tag: FA Vase

FA Vase – Preview

by Archie MacKay

After the disappointment of Wednesday night’s FA Cup exit, Shildon re-join the road to Wembley on Saturday with an FA Vase away day at Colne FC of the North West Counties Football League Premier Division.

The Railwaymen’s opponents sit mid table in their division but have won their last three matches in a row, all away from home: two in the league and one in the cup, including a 5-1 win over fourth placed AFC Liverpool.

Less than 20 years old, the Reds, as they are nicknamed, were established in 1996 and play at the Holt House Stadium in Colne, Lancashire, a ground previously used by Colne Dynamoes who progressed to the highest levels of non-league football before folding in 1990.

The club’s largest home attendance of 1,742 came in an FA Vase Semi-final replay against AFC Sudbury in 2004 which the Reds lost 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the match. The club’s average attendance last season was 95.

So far this season the club has progressed through the qualifying rounds by defeating two Northern League sides in Penrith and Heaton Stannington, so the Railwaymen, who are joint favourites in the tournament, will need to be on form to ensure they are not the Lancashire side’s third Northern League scalp this season.

While Shildon will still be hurting from Wednesday’s FA Cup loss, Colne will know that the Railwaymen will want to take their frustrations out on the NWC side, and Shildon will be in no mood for an early exit from the competition. Billy Greulich-Smith remains a doubt for the game, but otherwise, Shildon should have a full compliment to choose from.

The match kicks off at the Holt House Stadium at 3pm and there are some places remaining on the supporters bus for anyone wishing to travel. The coach leaves the car park behind the George pub at 9.30am on Saturday. To enquire about seats, call 07784 975451.

Season tickets on sale now

Durham Challenge Cup winners, Shildon AFC have announced that admission fees for the 2014-15 season at Dean Street will be frozen at last year’s prices.

Season tickets, which are on sale now, will again cost just £90 for adults and £50 for concessions and juniors – that’s less than £4.50 per game for adults and less than £2.50 per game for concessions.

Full admission prices for league matches will be £6 and £4 with under 12s gaining free entry when accompanied by a paying adult.

Cup matches are not included in the season ticket and full admission prices for FA Cup and FA Vase games will be £7 adults and £5 concessions. Domestic cup matches will be priced at the same as league matches. The same offer also applies to under 12s.

To purchase your season ticket, contact Jeff Ridley on 07909 992731. Alternatively, contact  Club Secretary, Gareth Howe on 07976 822 453 or by email at gareth.howe3@btopenworld.com.

West Auckland v Shildon AFC

The Twelfth Man turned out in force at West Auckland this afternoon for the game of the day in the FA Vase.

Unfortunately for the Railwaymen it was a bad day at the office, and although the sides were evenly matched throughout, a solitary goal for the home side separated the teams and saw Shildon exit this season’s tournament after just one match.

Shildon and West couldn’t have wished for a worse draw and the game proved to be a tight and tense affair with very few chances for either side.

There was no effort of note in the entire first 45 minutes and it was Shildon who should have taken the lead at the beginning of the second half when Ben Wood found space in the box and set up a glorious opportunity for himself.

But the normally composed finisher opted for power and, instead of calmly placing the ball into the inviting net, swiped wildly and sent it high and wide of the target.

It was a game in which the referee leaned heavily in favour the home side in his decision making and in the 65th minute, this tendency proved fatal for the visitors.

What appeared to be a free kick for Shildon when Mark Hudson was bundled to the ground was waved away by the official. However, he could not be blamed for the players’ failure to play on and, as they stopped to protest the foul, Garthwaite strode forward uncontested and drove a powerful shot high into the roof of the net from 20 yards.

Shildon almost equalised immediately, but a goalmouth scramble ricocheted harmlessly into Nixon’s arms.

Try as they might, Shildon could not find an equaliser and late in the game it took a goal line clearance to keep the score down to one-nil.

Unfortunately time ran out on last year’s FA Vase semi-finalists, but the Railwaymen can be consoled in the knowledge that they remain in top spot in the league and can now focus their attentions on an historic tilt at this season’s title.

The disappointment of the result will stay with the squad, the supporters and the town in the coming days, but this team of proven winners will be ready to go again in the league next Friday evening at Crook Town.