Windscale exited the Monkwearmouth Charity Cup in a tie which produced eight goals and was ultimately decided by a penalty shootout.
It had been a valiant comeback by Windscale after trailing 4-0 to get it to penalties and on another day they could have been in the hat for the next round
Things looked grim for the Atoms having conceded three unanswered goals in the first 45 minutes of play and by the hour they were staring down both barrels at 4-0.
Norton had taken the lead in the 9th minute through Jake Large. The Atoms were unfortunate not to level from the restart with a Lewis Selkirk header striking the upright.
Elliot Lowrie was next to threaten for the visitors, pouncing on a low cross from Lewis Jolly, but he missed the target when it seemed a score would have been the inevitable outcome.
The Atoms were grateful to Fin Stephenson in the 14th minute making a great save to prevent the hosts increasing their lead. Norton were not to be denied, however, when they doubled their advantage with an effort from Stuart Browne.
Worse was to come for Windscale when Ryan Watson notched the first of his brace of goals to give Norton a 3-0 lead at the interval.
It looked all over in the 60th minute when Watson added his second of the game to establish a 4-0 lead for the hosts.
With nothing to lose Windscale made three substitutions in order to change their shape and freshen things up. The changes made an impact almost immediately, with Ross Leeson converting a cross from Jolly in the 67th minute.
It was Jolly himself who added the Atoms second in the 75th minute, tucking a pass from Selkirk into the goal at the back post.
The arrears were reduced even further five minutes later with Jolly supplying another cross which was headed home by Rhys Singleton past a bemused Norton keeper Kieron Ezard.
The Atoms now had the bit between their teeth searching for a goal that would bring parity to the scores, and this duly came late into added time. Selkirk provided the opportunity to Harry Hodgson who hit the back of the net to take the tie into the dreaded penalty shootout.
The scores were even at 3-3 when Ezard gave Norton what appeared to be a winning advantage, saving the Atoms 4th kick. Not to be outdone Stephenson did likewise with Norton’s next attempt.
The tie was ultimately decided when the Atoms sixth effort was saved by Ezard and Norton progressed with their final successful effort.
It’s Cup football again next Saturday when the Atoms will be keen to retain the Alan Hood Trophy, travelling to take on second place Durham Corinthians in that competition.
Three days later they are away to Northern League Penrith in the Fred Conway Cumberland Senior Cup.
Listen to Windscale manager Stephen Fawcett’s thoughts on the match below:
