SHILDON AFC 2-1 WEST AUCKLAND
Wednesday 26 December, 11:00AM, League
For the second game in a row a debatable first half dismissal for West Auckland gave them a mountain to climb - and they very nearly came away with a deserved point at a lackluster Shildon.
The game barely had time to start when there was a five minute delay and West were harshly down to 10 men. Just 2 minutes in, Danny Key's heavy challenge to win the ball from Karl Everitt saw the Shildon midfielder catch his studs in the turf and dislocate his knee. To West's disbelief though the referee then showed the red card to Key and West had 88 minutes to last with 10 men.
Whilst the visitors tried to readjust to being a man down for the second game in a row, Tyson Masters went through on goal but Alan Wilkinson made the save. West's response was for Dale Jardine's cross to be headed back by Neil Robinson and Stuart Owen's goal bound volley was well blocked by the defender.
Shildon nearly had a 14th minute lead after the ball flicked off a West head, was then knocked goal wards from close range by Masters and Wilkinson backtracking clawed the ball out of the air at the second attempt.
Stuart Niven then gave the hosts the 19th minute lead with a good finish as West struggled to gain a foothold.
Scott Nicholson came close to heading the leveller only for a deflection to take the ball over while Bryan Stewart rounded goalkeeper Andrew Spence but was tackled as he looked to fire into the net. At the other end, Stuart Niven's low shot has Wilkinson scrambling to turn the ball away.
Shildon saw Daniel Moore blaze wildly over before adding a crucial second goal with literally the last kick of the half. Scott Nicholson was unfortunate to slip on the ball leaving the ball to be played onto Wayne Gredziak and the Shildon forward calmly finished.
After only 10 minutes half time break, it was somewhat surprisingly West who came out better in the second - Dale Jardine unable to direct his header goal wards on the stretch before Brian Fairhurst gifted the ball to Adam Emson with a shot back pass and the Shildon forward saw Alan Wilkinson block from close range.
In the 48th minute Neil Robinson set Bryan Stewart clear on the right, the winger cut inside before lashing a shot past Andrew Spence to pull one back.
Chris Mason's lunge on a West player was not even given a free kick as West then had 3 players booked in a matter of minutes as the West bench looked on in disbelief. In between the bookings, Tom Ptak hit the side netting from a tight angle after sliding in at the back post.
There was a promising Wets move in the 67th minute when Neil Robinson worked the ball to Dale Jardine before heading the resulting cross just wide.
Shildon had a spell of possession resulting Wayne Gredziak firing wide whilst Adam Emson saw his shot kicked away by Alan Wilkinson before the West keeper then held Daniel Moore's shot.
7 minutes from the end, Dale Jardine won possession but tried to take the ball round Spence when one on one and the keeper did well to hold. Shildon responded seconds later with Emson going clear and rolling his shot off the post.
Kevin Bromley's header was easily held and Bryan Stewart hit the side netting as West did all the running with only one more save from Wilkinson to keep West in it.
However the clearest opening came just 3 minutes from the end. Kevin Bromley did well to pull the ball back to Shildon lad Thomas Louden against his former club who, with the goal gapping somehow steered the ball wide and the chance for a deserved point for a valiant 10 man side had gone.
1. Alan Wilkinson, 2. Michael Heckley, 3. Brian Fairhurst, 4. Scott Nicholson, 5. Kevin Bromley, 6. Stuart Owen, 7. Danny Richmond, 8. Danny Key, 9. Dale Jardine, 10. Neil Robinson (12. Thomas Louden), 11. Bryan Stewart
Subs Not Used: Lee Hutton, Richard Smith
Pictures