Windscale’s run of consecutive away fixtures resulted in a 2-1 defeat at Durham Corinthians who were fortunate to take all three points.
It was Durham who almost took the lead in the 3rd minute when a speculative shot cannoned back off the post. The woodwork denied Durham again two minutes later when a deflected shot hit the crossbar and a brilliant stop from Ian Studholme again thwarted the home side.
Following these close calls Windscale stepped up their game and began to dominate play. A penalty claim for the visitors in the 19th minute was waved away by the referee.
Lewis Jolly was making his presence felt with several good runs down the right flank, delivering some good crosses into the Corinthians penalty box, with the Windscale attack unable to profit from and were scrambled clear by an anxious defence.
Leo Brennan looked to be in with a good opportunity when he danced beyond three defenders only to be brought down outside the box by a lunging tackle. Another opportunity went begging from the resulting free kick.
The final chance in the first period came the way of the Atoms. Reece Fretwell controlled the ball on his chest and set up Ross Leeson to deliver a cross to Ben Graham with the resultant shot scraping the outside of the post.
The second period followed much the same pattern with the visitors trying to unlock the Durham defence. A couple of chances were created but nothing to trouble the home side’s keeper.
Brennan was denied again in the 52nd minute by a last ditch tackle resulting in a corner.
Following a breakaway, it was Durham who took the lead shortly after this when the ball was eventually slotted past Studholme.
Parity was deservedly restored just before the hour mark. Lewis White delivered an inch perfect cross for Ross Leeson to power into the back of the net.
There was controversy in the 72nd minute when the Durham keeper rushed from his goal and handled the ball outside the penalty area. Unbelievably the match official awarded a free kick but failed to deliver the punishment dictated by the Laws of the Game, allowing the keeper to remain on the field of play.
The salt was rubbed into the wound with eight minutes remaining when Durham scored what proved to be the match-winning goal.
Windscale hit the road again next weekend for their third consecutive away fixture, this time against Annfield Plain.
