Windscale travelled to West Auckland to take on the Northern League teams Reserve side in their last Wearside away fixture of 2024 and came back with the points.
Windscale manager Stephen Fawcett was unable to travel with the team due to a family commitment, however he was delighted with the three points earned with a 1-0 victory under the stewardship of Ryan Byrne and Andrew Richardson.
Play was fairly even from the start with West Auckland building the first meaningful attack in the second minute but Morghan Claydon’s effort from the edge of the box was well over Fin Stephenson’s crossbar.
The Atoms began to grow into the game retaining possession well with Matty Pierce, Reece Fretwell and Lewis Jolly playing a number of good balls into the West Auckland box to keep the hosts back line on their toes.
The breakthrough came in the 12th minute. A corner from Jolly finding Will Rooke heading the ball down to Harry Hodgson who lashed it beyond the Auckland keeper Piotr Banda.
West Auckland began to build a number of attacks attempting to restore parity but Sam Denwood marshalled the Atoms defence well to resist any threat. Stephenson dealt with anything directed towards the Atoms goal to retain the Windscale 1-0 advantage at the break.
West Auckland began the second period bringing more aggression into their play. Within the first five minutes they had McKenzie Kirtly cautioned for a crude challenge on Lewis Selkirk, followed shortly after by Owen Stephenson forced to take a ten minute rest in the sin bin. The Atoms were no angels responding in like manner, Fretwell and Pierce added to the referees Christmas card list in his notebook.
The Atoms were unable to add to their total despite good efforts from Jolly, Fretwell and Man of the Match Hodgson.
West Auckland created an opportunity in the 73rd minute which was fired well wide of goal and 5 minutes later a dangerous cross was plucked out of the air by Stephenson.
Windscale managed the game to a conclusion and were worthy of the three points to maintains their fifth position in the League table.
With no game next week-end, the Atoms take on Richmond Town with a 2:00pm start at the Falcon Complex on 14th December, their last fixture of 2024 prior to the Christmas break.
