Windscale began their Wearside fixtures for 2025 with a narrow home defeat to a capable Silksworth team.
In an end-to-end game, which had everything for the neutral spectator, nine goals, eight players cautioned and a dismissal ended with a 5-4 win for the visitors.
Windscale started the game well taking an early lead in the 5th minute. Will Rooke whipping the ball across goal to Matty Pierce who fired home beyond Silksworth keeper Lewis Charlton.
The visitors levelled the scores in the 22nd minute through Keaton Randhawa who proved to be a menace to the Atoms rearguard all afternoon.
Randhawa was a major influence in Silksworth’s 2nd goal 8 minutes later. He was sent free with a long ball down the right, crossing to Liam Caffry who planted the ball beyond Atoms keeper Fin Stephenson.
Windscale achieved parity following a free kick awarded when Pierce was brought down 25 yards from goal. Rooke sending a daisy cutter into the right hand corner to leave the scores to 2-2 at the interval.
The Atoms thought they had taken the lead 4 minutes into the 2nd period, the referee disallowing Ray Sempill’s header adjudging a push on a defender.
Despite being dominant in possession Windscale had a crazy 10-minute spell on the hour mark conceding three goals in that period. Randhawa and Caffry both completing a brace, Mason Tarrant notching Silksworth 5th.
It was Atoms substitute Rhys Singleton rising above everyone to head home a cross from Lewis Selkirk to reduce the arrears with 12 minutes of play left.
Windscale were now in the ascendancy, the visitors defending frantically running the clock down at every opportunity, keeper Charlton cautioned for delaying play, Matthew Divers dismissed for a second caution.
With the clock ticking away in added time the Atoms struck again.
Andrew Begbie heading the ball over his marker, creating space before slotting the ball beyond Charlton. With time ticking away the Atoms had two further chances from corner kicks but unable to convert either, Silksworth taking the spoils.
Windscale travel to Farringdon next weekend hoping to commence a winning run. However, they will need to address the defensive issues experienced against Silksworth.
Listen to Stephen Fawcett’s verdict below:
