Windscale travelled across to Wolviston in the Wearside League and came away with an excellent 4-2 victory.
It was an enormously satisfying result as they had travelling over with only 12 players and they had made an indifferent start, conceding two goals in the early stages of the contest.
With a squad down to the bare bones due to unavailability, the Atoms were two goals down after 18 minutes as Wolviston were looking for their third League victory on the trot.
Things looked bright for them in the early stages. Playing some delightful football they took the lead in the 11th minute. From a corner kick, Callum Blair clipped a left foot shot from the edge of the box, and the ball slipped through unsighted Atom’s keeper Andrew Richardson’s legs into the back of the net.
Wolviston doubled their lead seven minutes later. A well worked move out wide resulted in a shot that looked goal bound, but Richardson made a great save to divert the ball away from goal. Fortunately for the home side Blair was on hand to nod home the loose ball.
Following the Atoms poor start to the game, this setback energised the team and they pulled a goal back in the 23rd minute.
Ryan Fitzwilliam delivered a cross into the Wolviston box which landed at the feet of Matt Metcalf. His first time volley nearly took the net off the goal as it gave home keeper, Spencer Nicholson, little chance to save.
The Atoms levelled the scores three minutes later with a goal by their Man of the Match, Lewis Selkirk. Following a run up the left side, Selkirk lofted the ball over the advancing Nicholson into the top corner. This was no more than the Atoms deserved as they had begun to control play.
Windscale almost took the lead before the break when Will Rooke sent a strong header beyond Nicholson who was grateful to see Chris Oswald clear the ball off the line.
Play was fairly even at the start of the second period, with Wolviston’s Blair creating the first chance of the half. Looking for his hat trick he tested the Atoms custodian with a shot from 15 yards, which Richardson collected effort comfortably.
It was Windscale who edged ahead just before the hour mark. Selkirk delivered a corner kick to the back post which Matty Pierce nodded home to turn the game on its head.
Following this the visitors retained possession superbly with some good midfield play particularly feeding Selkirk and Rooke, who were thorns in Wolviston’s side all afternoon.
The decisive score came in the 79th minute when Selkirk fired in a low cross which Lewis White, racing in at the far post, despatched beyond Nicholson.
Wolviston kept plugging away, looking dangerous particularly off set piece plays and Richardson made good stops from a couple of efforts to retain the Atoms’ two goal cushion.
Selkirk, who had run himself to a standstill, was replaced by Owen Bell whose first involvement almost brought a fifth goal. Breaking down the right, his goal bound shot was smothered by Nicholson.
Showing great composure the Atoms played out the remainder of the game without any serious defensive issues.
A great result, particularly with a travelling party of only 12 players and an indifferent start, conceding 2 goals in the early stages of the contest.
