Pre-Season continued with the first home game of the new season with a 5-0 victory against Durham City.
Goalscorers: Dodds 9, Rae (2) 22, 37, Wing 23, Moore 80
Team
Photos of the game can be found on flickr click here
Two goals in the final nine minutes and two penalties were the difference between the sides as Shildon took on Scottish Premiership opposition at Dean Street. The Railwaymen took the lead through Paul Connor and almost held on to it until half time but a 45th minute penalty, converted by Jason Scotland, brought the visitors back into the game. Shildon received an intense lesson in defending in the second half and held out until late in the game, but two goals in the final nine minutes, including another penalty, gave the top flight Scottish side a deserved but hard fought victory.
Tom Clegg took the photos, available below and on flickr.
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Tom Clegg’s photos of Shildon’s home pre-season friendly against Scottish Juniors, Tayport FC. The game ended in a 2-2 draw which saw Shildon take the opportunity to blood some of their youngsters from the reserves, none of which looked out of place in the first team jersey. Toms photos can also be viewed on Flickr.
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Shildon have secured a late addition to their friendly schedule in the form of Scottish Premier League opposition.
Hamilton Academical FC will be the visitors to Dean Street next Saturday, 26th July in a special Community Friendly.
Instead of the usual entry fee, Shildon are opening the gates and asking the community to ‘pay what you can’ for this game.
A club spokesperson said: “If all you can afford is 50 pence, you will still be able to gain entry to this match against prestigious opposition. We would like as many people in the community as possible to come along to Dean Street and enjoy this match against a side playing at the very top level in Scotland. It is not often games like this come along and we would like as many people in the community as possible to have the opportunity to see this match.”
Hamilton Accies created a sensation in Scotland last season when they famously relegated Hibernian in an end of season playoff, consigning the Edinburgh club to the Scottish Championship alongside their city rivals Hearts.
Having lost the first leg of the match 0-2 at New Douglas Park, Hamilton travelled to Edinburgh and Easter Road with a monumental task ahead of them.
An early goal from Jason Scotland gave the visitors hope, but as the clock ran down, it looked like Hibs would survive. Then, in the last ten seconds of normal time, up popped Anthony Andreu to level the aggregate scores and take the match to extra time.
With no further score in the tie, the match went to penalties and it was Accies who prevailed, winning the shootout 4-3 to record one the most sensational results in modern Scottish football history.
Now Shildon will have the opportunity to play the Premier League new boys in what will be the sternest test of their pre-season schedule. Kick off at Dean Street is scheduled for 1pm and the club hopes that with a pay what you can entry fee, the community will turn out in numbers to support the Railwaymen.
Shildon unveiled their new home kit against Stranraer on Friday night in their third pre-season friendly of the new campaign. It was also their first match of the new season back at Dean Street and although they fell to a single goal two minutes from time, the Railwaymen can be hugely satisfied at matching the Scottish League One side for almost the entire game.
Indeed, the better chances were created by Shildon before the visitors took the lead. Lewis Graham produced an excellent save, stopping a driven shot low to his left side in the early moments of the game before ‘Bobby’ Moore poleaxed a Stranraer defender with a rocket from 25 yards.
After an even first half, Paul Connor could have opened the scoring at the beginning of the second, holding off a number of defenders superbly before skewing his show narrowly wide of the far post from a tight angle.
It was a game of few real chances as both sides cancelled each other out in a competitive midfield battle with the deadlock not being broken until two minutes from time. A well worked move set the Stranraer manager’s brother, Chris Aitken away and he made no mistake, stroking the ball past the onrushing Lewis Graham from the edge of the box.
As Shildon pressed forward in search of a last gasp equaliser, it was instead Lewis Graham who produced another wonder save at the other end as the visitors broke away to prevent an even more unfair scoreline.
Stranraer manager, Stephen Aitken was very complimentary of the Railwaymen’s performance, acknowledging that the side had improved and strengthened since the two met each other during last pre-season.
And certainly the lads can take plenty of confidence from their performances so far in pre-season and will not have had that dented last night, even if a draw would have been a fairer result.
Shildon team: Graham, Richardson, Harwood, Atkin, Craddock, Hudson (Hodgson), Moore, Rundle, Wood, Ruddy, Connor (Garvie).
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).
The curtain may have only just fallen on the 2013-14 season, but Shildon are already well ahead in their preparations for next season.
The club’s pre-season friendlies – subject to any changes – have now been finalised and include a prestigious friendly against Scottish League side, Stranraer FC. Midweek games are expected to kick off at 7.30pm, unless otherwise indicated, while weekend games will kick off at 3pm.
The fixtures list – subject to any changes – is:
Saturday 12th July: Shildon begin their pre-season fixtures with a visit to Tow Law.
On Wednesday 15th July Shildon will travel to Blyth to taken on the Spartans, who play in the Northern Premier League Premier Division.
Friday 18th July: In a return friendly, Shildon will welcome Scottish League One side Stranraer to Dean Street for our first home friendly of the season.
On Monday 21st, the Railwaymen are on their travels again to visit Northern League bound, Ryhope Colliery Welfare.
Wednesday 23rd sees an opportunity for the lads to add to their trophy cabinet when the winners of the Durham Challenge Cup will meet Guisborough Town, the winners of the North Riding Cup, to play for the Eric Powles Trophy. The match will take place at Guisborough Town’s King George V Stadium.
On Friday 25th July, Scottish Junior league side (the Juniors are the Scottish equivalent of the English non-league system) Tayport FC will be visiting Dean Street.
The Railwaymen will return home to welcome Heaton Stannington to Dean Street on Wednesday 30th July.
Finally, on Friday 1st August is the annual John Hay Memorial Trophy which will again be played at Seaham Red Star this year. Shildon lifted the inaugural trophy last season.
The 2014-15 season is expected to get underway on Saturday 9th August.
