Windscale were 3-1 winners at Coxhoe when they resumed their Wearside League programme in the North East.
They are eighth in the table but only six points behind joint leaders Chester-le-Street and Darlington Town.
The Cumbrians started the game on the front foot with surges into the Coxhoe penalty area by Lewis Jolly, Matt Metcalf and Reece Fretwell bringing no reward.
Indeed it was basement club Coxhoe, without a League win in 18 games, who were first to score in the 6th minute when Peter Brown tucked the ball beyond Ian Studholme and into the back of the Windscale net.
The visitors were quick to respond and in the 9th minute were awarded a penalty after Metcalf was brought down in the area. Jolly stepped up to convert, sending the keeper the wrong way to level the scores.
The Atoms were denied another shout for a penalty in the 14th minute when Leo Brennan was brought down in the box, but this time the referee waved away the appeals from the visitors.
Windscale took the lead in the 21st minute. Following good work by Lewis White to evade three Coxhoe defenders, he set up a chance for Jolly. His shot was parried by the home keeper, however Andrew Begbie was alert to pounce on the loose ball and slotted it home.
Windscale’s lead was increased two minutes before the break. A corner kick from White found the head of Matthew Pierce who directed the ball into the back of the Coxhoe net with such pace it gave the keeper no chance to lay a glove on it.
10’- Penalty Converted. The scorer, Lewis Jolly. pic.twitter.com/zudStr9IOT
— Windscale AFC (@windscaleafc) December 4, 2021
Following the conceding of the early goal Windscale were glad to return to the change room at the break with a favourable 3-1 score line.
Coxhoe were unable to challenge the lead during a largely uneventful second period with Windscale’s game management enabling them to give four of the substitutes some valuable game time.
All that was left was to battle the elements safely on the way back home across the notorious A66.
