Windscale booked their passage into the next round of the Ship Owners Cup with a 1-0 away victory at Bishop Auckland Reserves.
Following an entertaining game on Wednesday against Hartlepool Youth, this fixture was a poor spectacle in comparison, the winning goal only arriving in the period of added on time.
Windscale had Fin Stephenson to thank in the third minute when a back pass from Jack Wordsworth fell short and was picked up by Bishop’s Calvin Payne but his shot was collected comfortably by the Atoms keeper.
Windscale eventually began putting their stamp on the game with Lewis Jolly, Wordsworth and Lewis Selkirk all testing the Bishop’s keeper.
But it was Stephenson again to the Atoms’ rescue midway through the half, earning his Man of the Match status, with two excellent saves to keep the tie level at half-time.
Windscale threatened early in the second period with Jolly setting up Wordsworth but his shot cleared the Bishop’s crossbar. The hosts were prevented from taking the lead in the 52nd minute when Byran Todd cleared off the line from a corner.
The game continued to be scrappy and looked to be heading for the dreaded penalty shoot-out, when true to the standard of play the game was decided by an own goal in added on time.
Harry Hodgson picked out Jolly with a great pass and after taking the ball beyond his marker fired in a shot on goal. Bishop’s custodian Jude Bowes was unable to hold the effort cleanly and in the ensuing melee, the ball was directed into the Bishop’s net by a defender.
In a game where performance by either team was not of a great standard, the Atoms will take passage into the next round as a just reward, particularly being forced to travel with a reduced squad due to limited availability.
Windscale have another difficult midweek fixture on Wednesday when they travel to take on 4th placed Easington Lane.
Listen to Stephen Fawcett’s verdict below:
