SHILDON 2-0 WEST AUCKLAND
Wednesday 28 November, 7:30PM, League Cup
Shildon dumped more misery on West Auckland by sending them crashing out of the League Cup although West had several chances to take the lead before being ultimately punished.
Bryan Stewart fired the first warning shot of the game - a low drilled effort that curled away from goal, not troubling Andrew Spence. West had the best of the opening stages but Shildon had two good chances within a minute of each other as they began to settle.
In the 16th minute Tyson Masters cross found Daniel Moore who knocked the ball wide. From the goal kick, Alan Wilkinson miscued straight to Masters who raced through on goal. One on one, Wilkinson stood tall and blocked the shot. Moments later West responded with a superb individual effort by Neil Robinson who took on several players before shooting narrowly wide.
A bullet effort from Danny Richmond flashed over Spence's bar in the 31st minute as West began to start creating openings. After Neil Robinson was then bundled clumsily off the ball in the area he picked himself up to find space to collect a cross but unfortunately scuffed his effort wide when well placed.
Shildon were failing to have any influence on the attacking side of the game although they did have a rare effort with Gary Bulleyment avoiding two challenges before his shot was saved. A minute before the half time break Jamie Middleton's long range effort was also narrowly wide as West looked to find the vital breakthrough.
The lead should have been taken by West in the 50th minute when three efforts failed to find the back of the net. Firstly Jamie Middleton went through on goal after a quick break. His effort was blocked by Andrew Spence, with the rebound hitting Middleton and going towards goal. Garry Barnes looked like he was going to tap the ball home from a couple of yards before Liam Clough's desperate lunge somehow knocked the ball off the line. The loose ball was then crossed to the back post where Bryan Stewart's diving head ended up inches the wrong side of the post as West fans looked on in disbelief.
Barnes saw a one two with Stewart find the striker room but his shot was saved before Stewart's run and shot was also held by Spence as Shildon struggled to hold on. They could have been down to 10 in the 59th minute when former West player Karl Everitt went in strongly and from behind in a tackle, the referee awarding only a yellow card.
As is the case though, with all the West chances, Shildon took an undeserved lead in the 60th minute when Wayne Gredziak's run drew defenders towards him leaving Tyson Masters unmarked and the forward stroked the ball past Alan Wilkinson to give the hosts the lead.
West then nearly imploded, giving the ball sloppily to Masters seconds after the restart, fortunately the forward scuffed his effort. Chris Mason then flashed a shot wide as Shildon has suddenly spurred into life. Shildon nearly had the second gifted to them in the 66th minute when West Auckland switched off at a throw and Masters found space again. His shot seemed comfortable although it went through Wilkinson's legs before the keeper recovered to hold it on the line.
Daniel Moore scuffed a shot wide whilst Bryan Stewart saw a low shot saved before substitutions tried to alter the course of the game. Sub Lee Ellison curled an effort into Spence's hands before a great last ditch tackle denied another effort on goal as the final minutes approached.
After Wayne Gredziak pulled a shot wide, Shildon managed to kill the game off in injury time when Gredziak's stinging shot was well saved by Wilkinson, the ball was then worked to Gary Ankers whose crisp left foot shot flew into the corner to confirm Shildon's passage to the next round.
1. Alan Wilkinson, 2. Michael Heckley, 3. Brian Fairhurst, 4. Ian Maddison, 5. Scott Nicholson, 6. Jamie Middleton, 7. Bryan Stewart, 8. Danny Key (12. Dale Jardine 70 mins), 9. Garry Barnes, 10. Neil Robinson (14. Lee Ellison 79 mins), 11. Danny Richmond
Subs Not Used: Lee Hutton
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