Windscale hit back after their mid-week top-of-the-table defeat to win 6-1 at Shotton Colliery.
However early on it appeared that Windscale’s pre-match instructions to respect the opposition but to commence the game on the front foot had not been taken on board by the Atoms.
In a scrappy start to the game on a narrow pitch and with blustery conditions, it was lowly Shotton who took the lead in the 18th minute.
Following the failure to clear a hopeful ball into the penalty area, Regan Bowman fired the loose ball into the back of the net beyond Windscale keeper Fin Stephenson.
This was the wake-up call the Atoms needed as they began to take control and dictate play. The pressure the Atoms exerted paying off with three headed goals before the interval, all from set piece plays, the first coming on the half hour mark.
A long throw by Ross Leeson was headed home by Matty Pierce to bring parity to the scores. Windscale edged in front on the half hour mark with Leeson contributing again, sending in a free kick from wide on the right which Will Rooke despatch beyond Shotton’s custodian Caidan Rutland.
It was Stevie Walker who increased the lead, heading home Reece Fretwell’s free kick delivery in the 44th minute to give the Atoms a two-goal cushion at the break.
The lead was increased to 4-1 early into the second period. A ball from defence was headed on by Rooke into the path of Lewis Jolly who ran forward to tuck his shot into the bottom corner beyond the advancing Rutland.
The Atoms dominance continued with a further goal on the hour mark. A ball into the Shotton penalty box created a communication mix up between Rutland and a Shotton defender, the ball evading both, allowing Jack Wordsworth to run beyond them and walk the ball into the net.
The final score came from Matt Pilkington, returning to play for the Atoms this season. A corner kick was not dealt with adequately by the hosts and Pilkington picked up the pieces to guide the ball over the line and complete the 6-1 score line.
It was a pleasing victory for the Atoms with a different goal scorer for all six goals. With a full bench travelling to the game, it provided Atoms manager Stephen Fawcett the opportunity to utilise four of the five permitted substitutes to contribute in the victory.
The Atoms have no scheduled fixture next Saturday. Their next game sees them take on Bishop Auckland Reserves on Wednesday, October 16 at the Falcon Complex, kick-off 7:45.
You can hear what manager Stephen Fawcett thought about the game below:
