Windscale put up a brave performance in defeat when they went down 4-1 at high-flying Seaton Carew in the semi-final of the Shipowners Cup.
It was their longest journey of the season to Hartlepool to take on second in the league who have assembled a squad with Northern League experience and the financial backing to gain promotion into the Northern League at the end of the season.
Despite the quality of the opposition and ending up on the wrong end of the score line, the Atoms, particularly in the first half, gave their best performance of the season to date.
The Seaton squad contain some physical players who play to their strengths, launching balls from the halfway line to gain control in the opposition penalty area. Their other asset is the advantage they get from corner kicks where they always deliver dangerous crosses into the opposition six-yard box.
Windscale settled well into the game defending strongly and causing Seaton problems with some slick approach work which led to them taking the lead in the 8th minute.
The Atoms captain and man of the match Reece Fretwell, slipping a delightful pass through to Travis Fyfe who’ slotted the ball neatly into the bottom corner beyond Seaton keeper Chris Davidson.
It was a corner 20 minutes later when Seaton drew level.
They deliver strong crosses across the face of goal which are always a threat, and on this occasion defender Dean Cope scrambled the ball into the net following a flick on at the near post.
Undeterred Windscale continued to play some good link up play creating several good chances without being able to add to their tally.
Seaton’s Matthew Pollard was very fortunate to remain on the field receiving only a yellow card following a very late challenge from behind on Fyfe which certainly deserved to be a dismissal.
The score remained 1-1 at the break, with Windscale manager, Stephen Fawcett pleased with the attitude and performance of his team.
It was Seaton who had the bigger percentage of possession during the second period, as a consequence the threat from the visitors diminishing slightly. However, they still created a number of opportunities which they were unable to convert.
The hosts took the lead in the 61st minute, not unexpectedly from Seaton’s quality at corner kicks. The Atoms failing to clear the ball, Adam Stuart consequently pushing the ball into the back of the visitors’ net.
Following a ten-minute bombardment, the contest was virtually over five minutes later when Seaton Carew’s Craig Linsel headed them into a 3-1 lead, unmarked at the back post from yet another corner kick.
With time drifting away substitute Charlie Green completed the scoring to send Seaton into the final.
It was a good performance from the Atoms despite the three goal difference.
This is something they can take with them into next Saturday’s home game against Brandon when they will hope to continue their improved league form with a third consecutive victory.
Hear Stephen Fawcett’s verdict below:
