Windscale took the honours with a 4-1 victory at South Moor, their second successive away win in the Wearside League.
This was the fourth time the teams had met this season with South Moor taking the honours in the previous league fixture and dismissing the Atoms from two of the Wearside’s Cup competitions.
With six players unavailable due to an organised trip to the Grand National, the 14 that travelled were all involved at some stage during the game being rewarded for a committed performance and a deserved three points.
Harry Hodgson put the visitors ahead in the 10th minute, the result of a high press by the Atoms.
Riley Smith’s attempted clearance could only find Hodgson who fired the ball into the top corner beyond Moor keeper Kalvin Turner.
The lead was doubled 15 minutes later. Louie Hall picked out Travis Fyfe with a pinpoint crossfield pass, who in turn laid the ball off to Josh Wise who finished the move by clipping the ball beyond Turner.
Andrew Begbie notched Windscale’s third goal with ten minutes of the half remaining. Stevie Walker, recently returned from his playing retirement, headed a lofted free kick across goal which the Moor defence were unable to clear.
Owen Woodburn nodded the ball on to Begbie at the back post who subsequently planted the ball into the back of the net.
It was the hosts who registered the final goal of the half with a long range effort from Drew Lake.
An attack down the left looked to have been competently dealt with by the Atoms defence, with the ball cleared out of the penalty area. But it was met by Lake who volleyed an unstoppable shot beyond Levi McAdam from 30 yards.
Any concerns that South Moor’s late goal in the first half would impact the flow of play, were dispelled as the Atoms continued with the intensity they had displayed earlier after the break.
Despite creating three or four good scoring opportunities, Windscale had to wait until the 88th minute to notch the final goal of the contest.
The Atoms worked the ball up the line to Woodburn to pick out Fyfe who cut back before slotting the ball beyond Turner to complete the scoring.
The three points were a welcome bonus lifting Windscale a couple of places up to a mid-table position in the League.
They will be tested this week when they are due to entertain Seaton Carew at the Falcon Complex on Wednesday.
Despite having four games in hand over chasing Gateshead Leam Rangers, Seaton Carew will be crowned champions with a win.
The challenge for the Atoms will be to delay their party, and the kick-off is at 7.45pm.
Here’s what Stephen Fawcett had to say:
