TUES 25TH SEPTEMBER SHILDON 2-3 SUNDERLAND RCA/ DCC
Shildon travelled to second division Sunderland RCA hoping to build on their recent high scoring wins. Both teams tested each other in the early exchanges but Sunderland made the better of their chances. In the 8th minute they went ahead . The ball was played through the middle and Sunderland's centre half pounced and struck a well taken ball into the back of the Shildon net. This unsettled Shildon a bit and they tried to get back into the game straightaway. In the 21st minute Ankers saw his shot cleared off the line and in the 30th minute Raitt tried a looping shot from out wide but the keeper gathered it comfortably. Niven was next in action and his effort from outside of the area was too weak and the RCA keeper had no trouble saving it. The breakthrough came for Shildon in the 33rd minute when Captain, John Hutton equalised, the home side struggled to scramble the ball out of their area, the keeper punched the ball into the path of Hutton who made no mistake in finding the back of the net making the scoreline 1-1. Masters had a good effort saved on the stroke of half time and the first 45 minutes ended all square at 1-1
HALF TIME SHILDON 1 - 1 SUNDERLAND RCA
Shildon came out after the break looking for a better performance than in the first half. In the 52nd minute Niven played the ball to Masters who got a shot off but the keeper managed to get to it. Shildon were forced to clear off their own line in the 56th minute when the home side began to pressurise the Railwaymen. Shildon finally took the lead in the 59th minute when Everitt volleyed the ball from 15 yards and found the back of the net to put Shildon 2-1 ahead. Mason was having an excellent game for Shildon and he came close himself when he struck the ball on the volley in the 65th minute but his shot was wide of the target. The home side equalised in the 66th minute when Leighton in the Shildon goal misjudged a long ball and allowed Sunderland an easy equaliser. Shildon struggled to match the second division side who were determined to go through to the next round. In the 78th minute it all fell apart for Shildon. The referee awarded a free kick to the home side and indicated for them to take it quickly if they wanted, Sunderland saw Leighton off his line and capitalised. The ball was played quickly and Leighton was miles away from it and could only watch as it went into the back of the net making the scoreline 3-2. Shildon seemed stunned by this goal and got straight back into action to try and draw level. Jury headed over the bar in the 89th minute as Shildon piled on the pressure in the dying seconds of the game. Unfortunately Shildon could not pull a goal back and force extra time. At the final whistle it was 3-2 in favour of the home side. This was a lack lustre performance from Shildon against second division opposition who should have posed no problems for them and this means that Shildon are now out of another cup competition.
FULL TIME SHILDON 2 - 3 SUNDERLAND RCA
Match Stats
Goals
Hutton 33 mins
Everitt 59 mins
Subs
16 Jury for 2 Howarth 55 mins
Bookings
None