Tag: Morpeth Town

Supporters Club issues over £1,200 in grants to local community

It’s a very special day for Shildon AFC Supporters Club tomorrow (15 March) as they welcome several local community groups to Shildon’s home Northern League match against Morpeth Town.

The Supporters Club launched the Shildon AFC Supporters Club Lotto, which is drawn weekly, at the beginning of the 2013-14 season. Since its introduction it has distributed over £3,000 in prize money and this week will be distributing its first grant funding to local community groups.

Shildon AFC Supporters Club Chairman, Russell Henderson said: “Tomorrow is a special day and we are delighted to be welcoming seven local community groups, who all successfully applied to our small grants fund, to Shildon’s home match, where they will collect their cheques.

“Putting money back into the local community is our top priority and this is the first time we are able to distribute money from the grant fund, although it won’t be the last. The lottery runs every week, all year round, and the more players there are, the more money we will be able to re-invest back into the local community.

“When new funds are available we will let the community know through local press outlets, but we hope to be able to announce an additional round of funding to coincide with each time the lottery jackpot is won.

“The fund is open to all small local groups and we are especially interested in helping groups who don’t have access to other means of funding such as the National Lottery. Anyone who runs a small group and needs funds for items such as equipment or to fund a group trip, for example, or any other reason is very welcome to apply. The maximum grant a group can apply for is £200 in one year. ”

At tomorrow’s match, the lottery will be distributing over £1,200 in total grant funding to the following local community groups:

Shildon Community Safety
Kay’s Hill Animal Sanctuary
Bishop Auckland Hospital Radio
Prince Bishops Primary School Community Garden
Shildon Community Garden
The Monday Club and
Jubilee Community Centre

The lottery manages a facebook page which contains full details of how to participate and includes a weekly draw announcement immediately after each draw. The page can be found by searching Facebook for Shildon AFC Supporters Lotto or by going directly to facebook.com/safcslotto.

Shildon top league table

Shildon marched to the top of the Northern League Division One table tonight after a comfortable win against ten-man Morpeth Town.

The home side had their numbers reduced within 15 minutes when Steven Anderson received a straight red card for kicking Mark Hudson in the face while the Shildon captain lay on the ground after being fouled.

Although both sides had chances in the first period, Shildon’s numerical advantage saw them come closest to opening the scoring. Ben Wood’s curling shot cannoned off the bar while Paul Connor forced an excellent save from Steven Mundy. The home goalkeeper was performing heroics to keep Shildon at bay during the first half.

The home side went into the break having survived the onslaught, but they had barely drawn breath in the second half before the Railwaymen were two up.

Two minutes after the restart, Ben Wood scored a curling, dipping free kick from 22 yards and, almost immediately, Sam Garvie fed Paul Connor who deftly chipped the keeper for a swift two-goal lead that allowed Shildon to take complete control of the match.

The Railwaymen cruised through the remainder of the tie before adding two late goals to more accurately reflect the dominance of the visitors. Mark Hudson fed Sam Garvie on the right edge of the box for the striker to slot home before the captain added to the tally himself by dispatching a penalty in the 90th minute.

Shildon’s competitiors for top spot both slipped up in tough ties this afternoon. Celtic Nation lost at home to ten man West Auckland while Spennymoor were held at Heritage Park by Bishop Auckland.

The results mean that Shildon, for the first time since season 2009-10 – and with six home matches in a row coming up – sit proudly atop the league table this evening.

Morpeth Town v Shildon AFC

Before a welcome run of six home league matches in a row, it’s another road trip for the Railwaymen tomorrow, as they visit Northumberland’s league newcomers, Morpeth Town on Ebac Northern League Division One duty.

It will be the fifth away match on the trot for Shildon who, by the time of Consett’s visit to Dean Street next Wednesday evening, will have been away from home for almost a month.

Morpeth have had a mixed start to their Division One campaign, opening with two heavy defeats before crushing Liversedge by 6-0 in the FA Cup. The win gave the side a confidence boost from which they went on to record a six match unbeaten run in league and cup.

As well as the six against Liversedge – whom Shildon defeated last season in the FA Vase – Morpeth have scored seven goals twice this season: once in the league and the other time in the league cup, but both times against top division opposition.

Meanwhile, Shildon go into the match as the form team in the league. Having dropped just two points in a six-match run including five away ties, the Railwaymen have scored twenty and conceded just four times.

Going into the fixture, Shildon’s hosts lie in 19th position in the league, collecting 8 points from their 9 matches. At home they have won twice and lost twice, with the four ties witnessing a staggering 28 goals – an average of seven per game.

Shildon lie third in the table, level with Spennymoor, who visit Heritage Park for a local derby against Bishop Auckland, and just three points behind leaders Celtic Nation, who host West Auckland at Gilford Park.

No doubt the fans paying their way in to Craik Park will be hopeful of seeing another feast of goals tomorrow. The visitors will be hoping the majority find their way into the home side’s netting.

Kick off tomorrow is at 3pm. For location details and other information about the club, pay a visit to the Morpeth Town website.