SEAHAM RED STAR 5-2 SHILDON AUG 16TH
Shildon travelled to newly promoted Seaham Redstar looking to gain their first points of the new season. Seaham pushed to stamp their authority on the game from the whistle. The home side were the first to create a chance when they flashed a free kick just wide in the 8th minute. Shildon responded through Emson, who found himself 1 on 1 with the keeper in the 11th minute but the Redstar keeper managed to save his effort. Both teams pushed on and both had shots hit the crossbar. Ex-Shildon player - Toft tore through the Shildon defence in the 22 minute but Spence managed to tip his effort over the bar. Seaham got the breakthrough they deserved in the 36th minute when Jennings rose above the Shildon defence to head Seaham into a 1-0 lead. The Shildon defence seemed to be struggling against a creative Seaham side who came close to extending their lead just on half time but Shildon could count themselves lucky to go into the break only 1-0 down
Shildon came out after the break with a greater sense of urgency. Their efforts paid off in the 56th minute when Emson went through on goal and levelled the game 1-1. This seemed to spur Shildon on and just 3 minute later Emson was gifted the ball by Raitt and his well taken goal put Shildon 2-1 ahead. Emson saw another effort tipped over the bar in the 65th minute. Seaham weathered the Shildon pressure well and responded themselves in the 67th minute when Jennings got his second for Seaham making it all square again. Shildon struggled to keep pace with Seaham throughout the game and this told in the 72 minute when poor defending by Shildon allowed the home side to take a 3-2 lead. Shildon fell apart after this and allowed Seaham to extend their lead in the 84th minute to 4-2. The travelling Shildon fans were resigned to another defeat but to make it worse Seaham got another goal in injury time and the final score was 5-2.
S.A.F.C MATCH STATS: GOALS: EMSON, 56,59
:BOOKNGS: HALL: SUBS: WHENSLEY/ HOWARTH 83MINS