Windscale’s good run of form in the Wearside League continued in their midweek clash with Shildon as they won 2-0.
The visitors battled well throughout the contest and could feel a little aggrieved not to have taken anything from it.
It was Windscale who had the better of the early play with man of the match Lee Jolly involved in most of the attacking moves.
Dean Fox had the ball in the net for the home side following one move, however, the assistant referee’s flag negated the score for offside.
It was Matt Metcalf who finally broke the deadlock, pouncing on a wayward throw-in by Shildon fullback Steven Dawson 35 yards from goal.
Metcalf closed down central defender Reece Marsden, robbing him of the ball before advancing into the penalty area and guiding his shot beyond keeper Ethan Lyons inside his right hand post.
Shildon started the second period the better of the two teams having much more of the attacking play.
Windscale persisted in giving the ball away cheaply allowing the opposition more dominance in the game. Only some wayward finishing by Shildon and dogged defending ensured Windscale retained their one goal advantage.
The defining moment in the game came 12 minutes from the end when the Atoms doubled their advantage.
A mix-up between Shildon substitute Josh Spencer and central defender Karl Dinsdale caused them to fail to clear a Windscale attack effectively, allowing Matty Pierce to pick up the loose ball.
Pierce carried it down the left, squaring the ball to Ben Graham on the edge of the box and he clipped a shot beyond the advancing Lyons for the crucial second goal.
Shildon contributed to an open game and could easily have dented the Atom’s unbeaten run of four games.
There will be a sterner test this weekend when they take on second-placed Gateshead Leam Rangers at the Falcon, kick-off 2.30pm.
