Windscale made a difficult mid-week trip to the North East pay off with a hard-earned point at Shotton.
The Atoms drew 1-1 with a Shotton side sitting top of the Wearside League following a three-game winning streak.
As is usual for midweek fixtures Windscale travelled with a changed squad due to work commitments, following Saturday’s win against Wolviston.
The visitors started the game better, creating a number of scoring opportunities in the opening 15 minutes.
Ben Graham came closest to opening the scoring, curling a free kick from the left hand side of the penalty area which looked to be heading for the back of the net.
However, the Shotton keeper got his fingertips to the ball pushing it onto the crossbar, with the rebound evading everyone and eventually being cleared.
It was Graham who broke the deadlock courtesy of another free kick. This effort, five yards outside the box, was curled low around the defensive wall evading the keeper at his right hand post.
The home side’s main threat came from their speedy left winger. He made several runs at goal but the Atom’s defence remained solid.
Windscale had a scare near the end of the first half, when a shot struck the underside of the crossbar and bounced down near the goal line before being unceremoniously cleared up field.
The second period started much the same as the first. However, as the half wore on Shotton came more into the game as the heat and the journey were having an adverse effect on the visitors.
Shotton made good use of their substitutes to freshen-up things but Windscale did have two excellent chances to increase their lead, both falling to Keiren Fraser.
Usually a clinical finisher he snatched at a shot ten yards out which was claimed comfortably by the Shotton keeper. The second was from a free header eight yards which sailed wide of the goal.
Following this Shotton drew level. A Windscale clearance was returned with a thunderous strike from the left, almost taking the net off the Windscale goal.
Further substitutions by Shotton added to their momentum and they looked likely to go on and claim all three points.
It was Windscale’s custodian, Ian Studholme returning to the team for his first game of the season who ensured the Atom’s returned with a share of the spoils.
Studholme produced several saves from close range and from distance towards the latter part of the game to thwart all of Shotton’s efforts.
Lewis Selkirk made his debut for the Windscale at this level stepping up from the Reserves and showed promise for the season ahead.
For the Atoms generally it was a great effort to dent Shotton’s 100 per cent record and come away with a well-deserved point.
