Windscale successfully kicked off their Wearside League programme against promotion hopefuls Wolviston by claiming the points with a 4-2 win.
Due to holiday commitments Windscale’s two regular choice keepers were unavailable so they called on club stalwart James Dolan to take his place between the sticks.
It is three years since Dolan played for the team, however, he rolled back the years to play his part in the victory.
Dean Fox set the ball rolling for the home side with a goal in the 4th minute. The Wolviston custodian, Ben Fairless, failed to hold a long through ball and Fox pounced to guide the ball into the net.
It was that man Fox again who provided the Atoms with their second after 14 minutes. Collecting the ball wide on the left, Fox cut into the penalty area and planted his second goal beyond the despairing dive of Fairless.
Wolviston responded four minutes before the break. A long punt up-field evaded the Windscale back line and Wolviston’s Michael McGee reached the ball first to fire into the top corner of the goal giving Dolan little chance to save.
With both teams playing an open game at the start of the second period, it was Lewis Jolly who provided Windscale’s with their third goal.
Jolly picked-up the ball on the edge of the penalty area and picked his spot inside the left hand post.
The home side’s fourth goal came in controversial circumstances. With 18 minutes left to play Wolviston failed to clear a corner effectively.
A cross from the left was headed goalwards by Reece Fretwell, and a Wolviston player cleared the ball from the line. With the Windscale team claiming the score, it was the assistant referee’s flag that confirmed the score.
It was the visitors who claimed the final goal of the contest from the penalty spot three minutes from the end of normal time when Dolan rushed from his goal and was adjudged to have brought down Jake Stott unfairly as he collected the ball.
McGee notched his and Wolviston’s second goal with a twice-taken spot kick, both efforts hitting the back of the net. However, the first kick was ordered to be retaken for encroachment by Wolviston players.
Despite a further five minutes added time, neither side were able to add to their totals, with the Atoms comfortably seeing out the game.
It was a good start to their League programme for Windscale who have a difficult midweek away fixture on Wednesday against Shotton Colliery.
