Windscale made the midweek trip across to Durham City with a depleted squad but still managed to come home with the three points from a 5-3 victory.
The kick-off was delayed by 10 minutes due to traffic issues experienced en route by the visitors.
Basement club Durham, are a far different proposition currently than prior to their situation pre-Christmas when they were the League whipping boys.
With the hard work of their committee and the influx of some new players, interest in the club has been resurrected within the community.
In a seesaw game, Durham were the more energetic from the start putting the visitors under pressure without gaining any rewards for their efforts.
Following this early onslaught, Windscale registered two excellent goals. The first from Joe Phillipson, who after turning a defender on the edge of the box, fired in a superb half volley beyond Durham keeper Liam Peverley.
The Atoms second followed shortly after. With Durham sitting deep, Lewis Jolly showing great vision, slid the ball behind the Durham defence to pick out Kieran Fraser, who after holding off his marker, guided the ball beyond Peverley.
Following some poor game management by the Atoms, they allowed Durham back into the game.
The hosts were piling men forward in order to reduce the arrears and a great strike from the edge of the box by Mitchell Chapman put the hosts on the scoresheet.
Durham were reduced to ten men when a player was dismissed for raising his hands into the face of Cameron Carter. Referee Hope Cairns, who produced a great performance throughout, dismissed the player after consultation with her assistant referee.
Despite their reduction in numbers, Durham brought the scores level immediately following the dismissal.
Following a scramble in the Atoms penalty area, the ball landed at the feet of Brandon Gredziak who smashed the ball into the back of the net beyond Atoms keeper, Andrew Richardson. A frenetic half provided a 2-2 score line at the break.
Even with 10 men Durham were intent on reaping some reward from the game. They had set themselves up in a 3-2-4 formation which allowed Windscale more opportunity to work the ball well in wide areas.
The space created made Durham vulnerable when not in possession but still giving their all to get back into the game.
It was Jolly and Laurie Black in quick succession, utilising their pace to take advantage of the space down the flanks. First Jolly then Black worked themselves into one-on-one positions and oundf the back of the net beyond Peverley to restore the Atoms two goal advantage.
However, Durham again reduced the arrears when a good tackle by Andrew Begbie on Junior Masandi saw the ball ricochet over Richardson’s head into the net.
It was Black who scored the final goal of the contest to restore the two-goal advantage for the Atoms. Black again created yet another one-on-one situation and successfully deposited the ball into the bottom corner beyond Peverley.
The journey back for the West Cumbrians provided yet another late arrival home due to road closures but the three points tucked away made it slightly more bearable following the win.
