SHILDON manager Gary Forrest was encouraged by his tam’s performance despite the Railwaymen being knocked off the top of the table by a controversial last-minute penalty in a seven-goal thriller at Celtic Nation on Saturday.

A crowd of 649 saw a really entertaining game which saw the Carlisle outfit go one point clear at the top of the table and Shildon finish with nine men.

“Even though it was frustrating to lose, there was still plenty to encourage us,” said Forrest.

“After Darren Craddock was sent off, heads didn’t drop and we came back from 3-2 down to draw level and then got to the third minute of injury time with ten men.

“I thought the penalty was very harsh, I thought their player lost his footing as he turned, then fell into a group of players.

“Before the game we had won seven on the bounce. We were never going to win our last 21 matches, so maybe that defeat was the one. There is plenty to build on.”

Shildon got off to a great start when a clearance by CN keeper Aaran Taylor went straight to Paul Connor, who ran through and fired past the keeper, but CN levelled on seven minutes when Willie Gibson was fouled and Colin McMenamin scored from the spot.

Shildon were awarded a penalty when Ben Wood was fouled, and Mark Hudson made it 2-1 after 20 minutes, but CN levelled again when Gibson crossed for McMenamin to beat Lewis Graham.

Shildon were reduced to ten men when Craddock was dismissed for pulling down Micky Rae, and they went 3-2 down when Gibson fired a 30- yard free-kick into the top corner.

Shildon equalised with a strike by Hudson which seemed to have earned them a point. However, a CN player went down in the area and after a furious Graham was dismissed for dissent, McMenamin coolly scored from the spot.

Shildon’s next league game is against another title challenger, Spennymoor Town, on Saturday.

Consett drew 1-1 with Newcastle Benfield at Belle View.

Consett had some good early chances and took the lead when an effort by Aris Guerin-Lokonga that was pushed into his own net by Benfield keeper Andy Grainger, who pulled off good saves from Michael Mackay and David Brown.

But Benfield improved in the second half and levelled on 72 minutes when Carl Paterson fired them level.

The Northern Echo:
Jonny Allan, left, shields the ball

Billingham Synthonia beat Morpeth 2-1 at Central Avenue.

Scott Swanston put Morpeth into the lead when he scored from a wind-assisted clearance, and Synners keeper James Briggs prevented them from scoring more goals before half-time.

But straight after the interval Nathan Porritt set up Mattie Osmond to fire Synners level, and with four minutes left Morpeth were reduced to ten men when Swanston was sent off for a two footed tackle.

Six minutes into stoppage time Synners got the winner when Fred Woodhouse was pushed by a defender and Michael Sweet scored from the penalty.

In the second division, the only game played saw Birtley win 1-0 at bottom of the table Ryton and Crawcrook, Dan Taggart scoring the goal midway through the first half.

  • The draw for the quarter-finals of the Brooks Mileson Northern League Cup is: Brandon United or North Shields v Whitehaven or Dunston UTS, Marske United or West Allotment Celtic v Guisborough Town or Spennymoor Town, Tow Law Town v Ashington or Celtic Nation, West Auckland Town or Whitley Bay v Bishop Auckland or Team Northumbria.
  • Billingham Town were fined a total of £400 at last Thursday’s league management meeting. They were fined £100 for failing to start with 11 players in a game at Newton Aycliffe, and another £50 for failing to play with a full-strength team. They were also fined £250 for falsifying a registration.