Shildon manager, Gary Forrest reflects on the Railwaymen’s home draw against Morpeth.
With all Shildon’s title rivals also dropping points, the Railwaymen were disappointed not to exploit an advantage. Gary expresses his frustration at the decision to allow play to go on in the lead up to Morpeth’s equaliser and at the condition of the Dean Street surface.
Shildon failed to take advantage of dropped points by all their title rivals when they too slipped up with a 1-1 draw against lowly Morpeth Town. So it’s as you were at the start of play at the top in the title race:
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.
Tom Clegg’s photos from Shildon’s Ebac Northern League Division One win over Bedlington Terriers. The win kept the Railwaymen in the title hunt and saw Steven Johnson celebrate his return debut with a brace. The other goal in the 3-0 win was scored by Same Garvie.
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Tom Clegg’s photos from Shildon’s Ebac Northern League Division One clash with Spennymoor Town. A dramatic ending, with Shildon reduced to ten me, enabled the Moors to snatch a late draw.
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Steven Johnson made a welcome – and scoring – return debut at Dean Street as The Railwaymen took on the Terriers in Ebac Northern League Division One.
A dream start saw Johnson score a first minute opener in a game in which the home side were rarely troubled. Second half goals from Sam Garvie and a second from Johnson made sure Shildon collected all three points to keep their title dreams on track.
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.
Extended highlights of the Ebac Northern League Division One clash between the top two sides in the division on Saturday 1 Feb 2014. A thrilling encounter was witnessed by a record Gillford Park crowd of 649:
Tom Clegg’s photos from yesterday’s top of the table clash between the Railwaymen and Celtic Nation at Gillford Park, Carlisle.
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Gary Forrest has been talking about the Railwaymen’s upcoming league matches against two of their title rivals, and the pressure is on the opposition, he says.
“On Saturday we visit Celtic Nation for the first of two back to back games against sides challenging us for the league title,” says the Shildon manager.
“If I’m honest all the pressure is on Celtic Nation for this game. They are the team that everyone expects big things of. They are by far the strongest team in the league on paper and, more importantly, if they lose this game they will trail us by 5 points and we will have two games in hand, and that lead could therefore extend to about 9-10 points with Nation having just 12 games remaining.
“If we averaged the same amount of points in our final 12 games as we have for the season to date it would mean that they will have to win every game until the season finishes.
Gary added that the squad is in good spirits, insisting that the league title is the club’s primary aim.
“Our attitude is superb at the minute and I love these big games: it is what the game is all about. There is a great buzz about the place at the minute and the quality of our training is superb.
“I have said since the start of pre-season – despite what the nonleaguezone [online forum] experts claim – that our main objective is to try and win the league this season.
Gary says that the challenge is so great this season that winning the league will be a special achievement for whoever lifts the trophy.
“This is the strongest the league has been for many a season,” he says. “Over the last few years either Spennymoor have dominated or it has been a two horse race. This season there are four fantastic teams challenging for the title and that means there will be 12 games this season that can be classed as six pointers. Last season there were two, but there is more of an equilibrium of budgets this season, with all four sides having strength in depth.
“We have all witnessed West’s demolition of teams two levels higher in the pyramid and Celtic Nation are signing experienced, established players on loan from the likes of Bristol Rovers. I think it is fair to say that any one of the top four would be more than capable of competing at least two levels higher up the pyramid; and it is for the reasons above that I personally believe that this is the most difficult season for many a year to become league champions.
“Whoever comes out on top can proudly boast of a fabulous achievement.”
Tom Clegg’s photos of Shildon’s 2-1 victory over Whitley Bay at Hillheads Park are now available for viewing:
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