Windscale addressed their indifferent run of form in the Wearside League with a 3-0 home victory over Silksworth.
Play was very open from the start, both team throwing caution to the wind in order to gain the upper hand.
It was the hosts who looked the more likely to score in the early stages, with skipper for the day, Lewis Jolly and Laurie Black using their pace to good effect.
The Atoms created several opportunities to score but Silksworth’s back line remained resolute, with keeper Ben Reynolds looking assured between the posts and some last ditch defending keeping the scores level.
The deadlock was broken in the 28th minute. A great angled run down the left by Jolly ended with him slotting the ball into the far corner of the goal after evading his marker.
It was Black who doubled the Atoms lead in the 37th minute. Following a cross field ball into acres of space behind the Silksworths back four, Black found himself in a race to the ball with Reynolds.
The visitor’s keeper came charging from his goal with both players reaching the ball 30 yards from goal. It was Black who made the decisive contact sending the ball into the back of the unguarded net giving the Atoms a 2-0 advantage to take into the break.
Windscale came first out of the traps to increase their advantage in the 47th minute. Following a great through ball from Man of the Match, Joe Phillipson, Jolly notched his second and the Atoms’ third. He collected the ball and carried it into the penalty area, guiding it beyond the outstretched hands of Reynolds.
It looked to be game over at that point and the hosts appeared to take their foot off the pedal. This allowed Silksworth to create a number of opportunities particularly with high balls into the box.
Atoms custodian Andrew Richardson dealing competently with most of these, the others successfully diverted away by some dogged defending.
Silksworth had a great chance to reduce the arrears and potentially get themselves back into the game with 30 minutes remaining.
Match Referee Ben Whitfield, who had an excellent game throughout, awarded a penalty for a challenge in the box but Daley Clarke smashed his spot kick against the crossbar and the ball was subsequently cleared.
Silksworth had the upper hand for the remainder of the game but were unable to pierce the home defence, the Atoms taking the spoils in a creditable 3-0 victory.
Windscale now have three away games in eight days. They start with a visit to Durham City on Wednesday evening, Annfield Plain on the Saturday and Norton and Stockton Ancients to complete this round of fixtures the following Wednesday.
