TEAM:  SPENCE, HOWARTH, MASON,CLARK,HUTTON,CLOUGH,MOORE,EVERITT,MASTERS,GREDZIAK,BULLYMENT. SUBS. JURY, ANKERS,COWAN,EMSON

Shildon went into this match after a couple of good league results so expectations were high. West who were forced to play in Shildon shirts after they failed to bring the correct coloured shirts and did start the game brighter , maybe the shirts were confusing the Shildon team. Former West player Karl Everitt had Shildon first effort on goal in the 11th minute with a long range shot. Captain Daniel Moore spooned a great chance in the 16th minute after a decent cross by Tyson Masters, Masters went close himself in the 17th minute but his chance went just inches wide. West went close in the 18th minute when there striker went on a great solo run but his shot went just wide. The game did have an edge to it with West's squad containing a few ex Shildon players , tackles were flying in from all angles and the ref was doing his best to keep the game flowing despite West Auckland's stop start tactics. West did manage one long range effort which failed to bother Spence in the Shildon goal. With half time approaching Shildon finished the half the better, midfielder Gary Bullyment tried his luck with a long range shot which Wilkinson saved in the West goal.

HALF TIME SHILDON 0-0 WEST AUCKLAND

Shildon started the second half slowly and West showed there intentions having an effort cleared off the line in the 49th minute immediately followed up with a gift of a chance which West somehow managed to squander . West looked the more likely to score and Spence was forced to save in the 53rd minute as once again Shildon gave the ball  away. The home side looked as if they were going to get dragged into West's niggling style of play but a moment of magic from Wayne Gredziak and Tyson Maters broke the deadlock for the Railwaymen, Gredziaks clever turn and pass found Masters in the box whose superb first touch gave him the space and angle needed to slot the ball past Wilkinson in the West goal. Shildon finally started to  look more like the side that had done so well recently, Masters almost put Gredziak in on goal straight from the restart but the ball was just inches away from the feet of Gredziak, Chris Mason had a pop in the 61st minute as Shildon piled on the pressure. Wilkinson almost dropped a howler in the 65th as he fumbled a Masters shot on the line. Sub John Jury blazed a 83rd minute over the bar as Shildon looked for the killer second goal, Gredziak had a great chance to finish the game off in the 87th minute after a good ball from Masters but his effort went well wide. Finally Shildons pressure paid off, Wilkinson made a great save from Gredziaks shot but when the ball landed at the feet of sub Gary Ankers the full back made no mistake with a fine left foot strike most forwards would be proud of to send Shildon into the next round of the League Cup. This was a hard fought victory in a match which always threatened to boil over, despite being without a number a first team players it was positive to see Shildon grind out a great result and pile on the misery for West Auckland who are having a dreadful season so far.

FINAL SCORE SHILDON 2-0 WEST AUCKLAND TOWN