Tag: Northern League

Match Preview: Whitley Bay vs Shildon AFC

Saturday 13th April 2019, Kick-off 3pm

Shildon looking to finish strong in the build up to the Durham Challenge Cup final  

by Ash Brighton

Shildon bring their league fixtures to a close as they travel to Whitley Bay this Saturday in the Ebac Northern League Division 1.

The railway men will be looking to follow up the two team’s last meeting back in March, a 2-2 draw, with a win as they bring the curtain down on another league season.

While manager Daniel Moore is aware some eyes may well be shifting towards the big day at the Stadium of Light in May, he’s challenged the side to maintain their high standards since the festive period.

“The coming weeks are about keeping the standards and professionalism that the players have set themselves.”

“Since Christmas we have been one of the form teams in the league and we are looking to finish on a high which could possibly see us finish in the top 6.”

However, the manager is more than aware of what tomorrow’s game represents and does have May’s cup final in the background of his mind.

“Tomorrow will be good for me to see who is mentally ready for the last games.”

Shildon’s last result saw them draw 1-1 with local rivals Bishop Auckland in a fiercely contested matchup but will be looking for an ever better result against a mid-table Whitley Bay side.   

MATCH REPORT | Shildon 1 Bishop Auckland 1

Points shared in feisty derby by Josh Hart

Shildon’s final home game of the season ended all square, following a feisty encounter with rivals Bishop Auckland.

In what proved to be a scrappy game, Daniel Moores men edged a cagey first half and even led at the break thanks to a fine strike from number 10 Billy Greulich-Smith in the 19th minute.

Prior to the goal, the Railwaymen were applying pressure to Bishop Auckland, who started the game slow.

Bishop Auckland did respond early in the second half however, equalising via a Hoganson free kick into the bottom right hand corner after just 3 minuted played.

The remainder of the second half saw Shildon dominate a large proportion of the possession in Bishop Aucklands half, whilst the away side attempted to counter down the left flank whenever possible.

The home side also created many set piece opportunities, drawing fouls from the Bishop Auckland back line and midfield, particularly in the middle third of the pitch.

However, the biggest chance of the second half did fall to the away side, with Bishop Auckland failing to take the opportunity gifted to them by the Shildon keeper.

Speaking after the game manager Daniel Moore stated: ‘’I think we probably shaded it first half and they had a couple of chances second half, so on the whole probably a fair result’’

The result now leaves Shildon in 7th place, one point behind 6th placed Stockton Town.

Attendance: 384

Match Report: Shildon 1-0 North Shields by @brighton_ash

Railway Men extend unbeaten run of form  

Shildon continued their unbeaten form as they cruised home to a comfortable 1-0 victory over a dogged North Shields.

The home supporters had to wait until the 56th minute for the lone goal of the contest as hometown boy Ben Trotter, slotted home a lovely curling strike from the left edge of the North Shields box to find the far corner.   

It could well have been two though as the Railway Men had a goal disallowed only moments before as forward Billy Greulich-Smith found himself free in the box, burying the chance only to be ruled out for offside.

The home side were by far the better of the two all match long, as North Shields struggled to make inroads into Shildon’s half for most of the game.

An opinion shared by manager Daniel Moore at full time who said, “We stayed switched on, I think we dominated the game from start to finish”. 

“I love a 1-0, clean sheet, but I said at half time just keep plugging away and it will come, and it was a great finish from Ben”.

The result now sees Shildon leap frog North Shields up into 7th still with a game in hand and manager Moore is looking for the team to use Saturday’s result as a benchmark for the remainder of the season and beyond.

“I said to them a few weeks back to finish unbeaten”.

“We go above them now, so the aim is to finish as high as possible and get into good habits looking forward to next season”.

Shildon’s attention will now switch to a trip to Whickham next Saturday in search of another three points and maintaining that unbeaten record.

Attendance: 292

Shildon V North Shields Match Preview, 23 March 3pm

Shildon looking to return to winning ways

By Ashley Brighton

Shildon will look to continue their unbeaten run as they welcome a high scoring North Shields side to Dean Street this Saturday, in a game that promises excitement.

The Railway men are unbeaten in all competitions since their 2-0 victory over Hartlepool in the semi-finals of the Durham Challenge Cup back in February.

A run that manager Daniel Moore is keen to continue after challenging the players to see out the remainder of season undefeated.

So far, the players have responded well to the manager’s challenge, despite a disappointing result home to Whitley Bay, drawing 2-2.

However, the Shildon boss still felt there was cause for celebration looking ahead to the remainder of the season.

He said, “I was, and the players were disappointed to only take a point out of the game last week against Whitley Bay, even though we had 10 men for the majority of the game, so that says a lot about the character and desire to win”.

Saturday’s matchup also is an opportunity for Shildon to leap-frog their opponents up into 7th place ever closer to the top six and the boss has not underestimated the importance a win may have.

“Tomorrow is a big game if we want to finish in the top six, we have to win, simple as that”.

Shildon currently sit two behind the away side as well as having a match in hand. The Railway men come into Saturday’s fixture with little in the way of selection concerns, the only notable absentee being forward Zac Atkinson who misses out through suspension.

ENL1 Result | Shildon 3 Seaham Red Star 2

Shildon move up to 6th with a 3-2 victory at home to Seaham Red Star.

Nathan Steel scored twice in 2 minutes to give Shildon the perfect start within 10minutes. Ben Trotter then added a third just before half time.

In the second half Curtis Coppen scored and then Paul Gardiner further reduced the deficit to 3-2. Coppen was then sent off for a second yellow card.

Man of the Match : Nathan Steel

FT : Shildon 3 Seaham Red Star 2

ENL1 Result | Consett 0 Shildon 2

Shildon took all 3 points away to league leaders Consett

Zak Atkinson scored his first goal for the club since his move from Ashington after 2 minutes to give the visitors the perfect start.

Billy Greulich-Smith scored his 5th goal in his last 6 games to seal the win after 66mins heading in from a few yards out. Nathan Steel could of made it 3 but former Shildon stopper Kyle Hayes saved in the 92nd minute.

FT Consett 0 Shildon 2

ENL1 RESULT | Stockton Town 1 Shildon 3

Billy Greulich-Smith scored with a header in the final minute of the first half to give Shildon a half time lead.

Aidan Heywood then doubled the lead 3 minutes after the restart with a low shot to the goalkeepers right. Heywood then scored the goal of the game half way through the second half with a shot from outside the box that flew into the top corner.

With 15 mins left Kevin Hayes scored to reduce the deficit with another shot from outside the box but that was how the game ended with 3-1 victory to Shildon.