Windscale followed up their mid-week victory at Willington with a 4-1 home win over Wolviston in the first round of the Monkwearmouth Cup.
Windscale had the first opportunity to score in the third minute when a cross whipped in by Laurie Black was deflected to Reece Fretwell, and his shot was marginally wide.
Wolviston were the next to threaten five minutes later. They had the ball in the back of the hosts’ net, but the score was chalked off when the referee’s assistant flagged for offside.
The Atoms took the lead with 10 minutes on the clock. Ray Sempill delivered a delightful pass between two defenders to pick out Black who fed Dean Fox at the back post for a simple tap in.
The game itself had a pre-season look about it. Play was laboured from the hosts who squandered a number of scoring opportunities.
However Ethan Willet, Wolviston’s man-of-the-match, was a constant thorn in Windscale’s side and was unfortunate not to be on the scoresheet. The visitors also had a strong claim for a penalty waved away.
Chris Davidson was a rock in the Wolviston goal preventing the Atoms increasing their lead with saves from Lewis Jolly, Reece Fretwell and Fox to leave the Atoms with their single goal advantage at the interval.
Following the restart there was a flurry of goals in a seven-minute spell after the Atoms doubled their lead in the 56th minute.
Matt Metcalf sent Fox clear and his square ball gave Ross Leeson the simplest of chances to clip the ball home before Wolviston responded four minutes later.
A long ball sent Noah Flynn through on goal and he despatched his shot beyond Lee Jolly with the Atoms defence vainly claiming offside.
Sempill regained the Atoms two goal advantage three minutes later. Following a corner kick, he made a run to the near post to nod the ball into the back of the net.
It was Metcalf who notched the final Atoms goal. From a Jolly free kick he reaped his reward when he ignored the flying boots to bravely send in an unstoppable header.
The Atoms second half performance was an improvement on the first 45 minutes whilst still not out of third gear.
Wolviston battled all game, creating several good chances for themselves, and the Atoms were grateful for custodian Lee Jolly’s alertness between the posts ensuring a safe passage into the second round.
Due to ongoing floodlight repairs at the Falcon Complex, The Atoms take on Norton and Stockton Ancients in a League game on Wednesday at Borough Park, home of Workington Reds, with a 7.45 kick-off.
