Windscale’s recent good form hit the buffers when they suffered a 3-1 home defeat to South Moor.
The Atoms run of four successive wins, three of which were away fixtures was surrendered tamely against South Moor who had previously removed the hosts from the Alan Hood Trophy earlier in the season.
With a strong squad and knowledge of how South Moor set themselves up in games, packing their midfield to smother opposition build up play, it was a disappointing performance.
Particularly with the quality of their recent performances, it was a shock to find themselves trailing 1-0 at the break.
South Moor were the first to threaten a score when a strike from Nathan Riley was cleared after cannoning back off the upright.
It was Ross Leeson who fired in the Atoms first effort on goal in the 17th minute, but his shot was narrowly over the crossbar.
A shot from distance by Travis Fyfe a minute later brought the first of a number of saves from South Moor’s Daniel Sinden, the keeper making a number of competent interventions throughout the game.
The visitors took the lead in the 25th minute through Drew Blake. The goal resulted from a reluctance by the Atoms to play the ball wide into space and subsequently losing possession in heavy traffic.
It was on one of these occasions that found Blake striding forward giving Levi McAdam no chance with his strike, burying the ball into the back of the net.
It was a lead the visitors retained at the halfway stage.
The second period started well for Windscale, Sinden having to make making two unbelievable saves from headed chances.
Rob Davidson’s point blank effort was somehow kept out, and a minute later he made another save to repel a goal bound effort from Lewis Selkirk.
South Moor increased their lead in the 51st minute. Some indifferent defending allowed Blake to intercept and score his second of the game.
From this point Moor were content to absorb any pressure exerted by the hosts, with Sinden in particular happy to send balls on the wind into the Atoms penalty box.
The introduction of Josh Wise in the 70th minute threw a potential lifeline to the Atoms.
Reece Fretwell laid the ball into the path of a run by Wise who with virtually his first touch in the game, sent a 25-yard screamer beyond Sinden.
Windscale huffed and puffed looking for another goal to bring parity, but it was Blake with his hat trick goal in the 89th minute who sealed the points for South Moor.
The effort was a replica of his first with Windscale again failing to use the space out wide, losing possession and Blake drove forward to give McAdam no chance low to his right.
Man of the Match for the Atoms was certainly McAdam who gave another excellent performance between the sticks, making several brave saves during the game.
Hat trick hero Blake for South Moor got their vote however, he was pushed closely by Sinden who dealt competently with almost everything the Atoms threw at him.
Windscale have the opportunity to get back on course with another midweek fixture.
They entertain Richmond under the lights at the Falcon Complex on Wednesday evening, kicking off at 7.45pm.
You can hear below what manager Stephen Fawcett thought of the game:
