Windscale slipped to a 2-1 midweek defeat at Richmond Town but were beaten by a controversial goal.
It looked clearly as if the ball was knocked into the net by a Richmond hand but the goal as allowed to stand.
It spoiled what had been a decent performance by the Atoms as they tried to bounce back from Saturday’s 1-0 Cup defeat at South Moor.
The Atoms didn’t take long to test out Richmond goalkeeper Bruno Frankland, as Travis Fyfe’s exquisite free-kick was very well saved to deny the Atoms an opening goal inside the first five minutes.
The Atoms then had another chance some minutes later, as Aiden Kegg, fresh back from injury, fired a ball into the feet of Rob Davidson, who’s deft touch allowed him to beat his man, but a second effort from the defender managed to prevent him from getting a shot away.
It was Richmond who struck first in the 12th minute after a defence splitting pass found the run of star player Edward Lewington, whose shot from his second-touch beat Levi McAdam from the edge of the area.
A goal down, the Atoms stepped up their pressure, retaining the ball well and moving Richmond around.
Davidson was instrumental in the Atoms attack bringing the ball forward, forcing the Richmond players to bring him down.
On 20 minutes, Begbie hit a magical diagonal pass to the feet of Lewis Selkirk, who took it in well and tried to find Jack Wordsworth on the right wing.
Unfortunately the curling pass skidded off the 4G artificial turf surface and went behind.
More pressure was applied as Matthew Pierce, aerially dominated the first half, this time winning a duel and finding Selkirk, who tested Frankland but he handled well.
The Atoms would find a breakthrough on 43 minutes, as yet again, Davidson was a key factor in the link up play between himself, Selkirk, Fyfe and Kegg.
It saw Kegg bust through the defence and slotted beneath the goalkeeper to draw the sides level.
In the second half Richmond almost drew first blood with a slick counter attack, but the ever-speedy Ross Leeson raced back to save the situation, clocking up the fastest ever speed recorded by a Windscale player at a phenomenal 31.3kmph.
The Atoms had the ball in the back of the net again on 68 minutes, as a flick on from a Selkirk free-kick by Pierce saw Davidson slot calmly passed the goalkeeper, only for the assistant to raise his flag for offside.
Chances came few and far between for the Atoms in the second half, having not played with a recognised striker, due to an injury to only striker Harry Hodgson, who broke his hand against South Moor at the weekend.
When Jack Wordsworth was fouled a yellow card followed and Selkirk accepted the invitation to whip the ball towards the back post, which seemed to be on its way in, but was met with a header by Ray Sempill who steered it over from close range.
It was another chance squandered by the Atoms who introduced all their three subs as Josh Wise, Ben Mahaffy and Ryan Fitzwilliam replaced Davidson, Fyfe and Sempill.
Richmond broke forward and the ball was up for contest, when Wordsworth was deemed to foul the Richmond forward.
A free kick was awarded on the edge of the area and the ball was whipped round the far side of the wall.
It produced a save from McAdam, but was subsequently turned in by the hand of the Richmond man, but Windscale’s appeal fell on deaf ears, and found themselves 2-1 down.
The Atoms tried to come forward with all-out attack, but Richmond survived the final seven minutes to take all three points.
Windscale now have a home fixture, a cup tie against Willington, which will see the debut of new striker Owen Woodburn.
Man of the Match was awarded to Andrew Begbie, for an outstanding performance at the back.
Hear from Windscale manager Stephen Fawcett below:
