With no fixture over the weekend, Windscale returned to action last night with a Wearside League fixture under the lights at the Falcon Ground.
Following on from the comfortable mid-week win over Braithwaite in the Fred Conway Cumberland Cup tie, the game against South Moor provided much sterner opposition.
The fixture turned out to be a bad-tempered affair, the match official dishing out eight cautions during the game, four against each team and in the end a single goal won it for Windscale.
South Moor arrived at the Falcon Complex with good numbers who were very vocal, while the team set-out their stall from the start with a very physical and well organised approach from the first whistle.
The tone of the game was set as early as the first minute. Matt Metcalf was unfairly impeded as he sent Lewis Jolly free down the left. The referee initially played the advantage. With Jolly unable to threaten the goal, the official pulled the game back to issue a caution.
It was the Atoms who were dictating play, setting up opportunities for Matty Pierce, Lewis Selkirk, Will Rooke and Jolly in particular, none of which were converted.
South Moors first effort on goal after 17 minutes was blocked and turned for a corner, with the resultant kick easily dealt with by the Atoms defence.
Neither side was able to capitalise on any opportunities, although Selkirk went close in the second minute of added time when he sent a free kick narrowly over the Moor crossbar.
Both teams retreated to the changing rooms with the score-sheet blank at the half-way stage.
The second period commenced in the same manner as the first half. South Moor came close to opening the scoring in the 53rd minute.
From a corner kick that was cleared to the edge of the box, Steven Walker headed the ball to safety following a first-time volley from a South Moor player.
Hard-working Selkirk was removed and replaced by Laurie Black in the 76th minute, with the decisive action of the game following four minutes later from a free kick.
Jolly floated the ball into the Moor box and found Pierce who deposited it into the South Moor net with a well taken header.
There was no further scoring despite the referee adding on a further 10 minutes of additional play.
With the margins tight the Atoms took no chances, playing some agricultural football to ensure they secured the three points.
Another home game beckons on Saturday, Windscale entertaining Durham Corinthians at the Falcon Complex with a 2.30pm kick-off.
