WEDNESDAY 24^TH OCTOBER SHILDON 1-2 CHESTER LE STREET

Team - Leighton, Howarth, Ankers, Mason, Hutton, Everitt, Moore, Raitt,

Shildon travelled to Chester Le Street in this midweek league fixture hoping to kick start their season and gain some much needed league points. Chester Le Street were the first to have a chance when Leighton had to punch the ball over the bar in the 7th minute as the home side had a free header within the Shildon penalty area. Shildon were shocked into action and Emson had a chance at the other end of the field, his shot went over the bar. The home side played a physical game were constantly pressing Shildon. They took the lead in the 13th minute when the Shildon defence failed to clear the ball and gifted Chester Le Street a header which found the back of the Shildon net and put them 1-0 ahead. In the 28th minute the Chester Le Street defence were at sixes and sevens in their penalty area and amongst the confusion Hutton managed to scramble the ball into the net and put the Railwaymen back on level terms. Emson had a chance in the 33rd minute when a good passing move by Shildon found the young striker in space, his final ball was just inches wide. Leighton charged out of his area in the closing stages of the first half to shield the ball and stop Chester Le Street getting a shot on goal. The first half ended all square at 1-1

Shildon came out for the second half hoping to improve on their first half performance. Emson had a couple of shots in the early stages of the second half and Howarth's cross/shot in the 52nd minute came close as it hit the top of the crossbar. Everitt saw his powerful shot go wide in the 59th minute as Shildon struggled to get back into the game. The game was put out of their reach in the 77th minute when poor defending by the Railwaymen allowed Chester Le Street in to take a 2-1 lead. Shildon never came back from this and never really troubled the Chester Le Street keeper. Gredziak returned to the Shildon side but couldn't make his mark on this occasion and Shildon lost out on more valuable league points.