Boosted by their 7-1 thrashing of Newcastle Benfield, Shildon travelled to Unibond League side Whitby Town for this F.A Cup tie. New signing Gary Ankers was cup tied so Chris Mason dropped in at left back with the returning John Hutton filling the vacant centre half position. In front of a large crowd Whitby started the game at a high tempo, but it was Shildon who had the first half chance of the game. Tyson Master's header an early warning for the home side. Whitby went close in the 5^th minute but Spence managed to punch the ball away.  Danny Brunskill was proving a handful up front using his strength to hold up the ball for the midfield runners. But it was Tony Hackworth who gave Whitby the lead in the 11th minute. Hackworth found himself with a clear run on goal after defender Darryl Hall had played him onside, the Whitby striker finished confidently to give Whitby the lead. Shildon regained their composure and limited Whitby to only a few a half chances.  Stuart Niven was trying tirelessly to bring the likes of Emson and Masters into play and in the 25^th minute his hard work finally paid off. Niven held the ball up and waited for Emson to make his run, Emson raced through and smashed the ball into the back of the net to pull the sides level. Not for the first time this season a poor defensive decision gifted the opponents a goal, Hall guarded the ball out of play assuming it had come off a Whitby player and would result in a goal kick, sadly the ball had come off a Shildon player and from the resulting corner Daniel Brunskill put the home side back in front. Former Newcastle and Hartlepool player Matty Appleby went close in the 34^th minute after some great one touch football. Shildon were now holding on and the home side almost increased their lead in the 40^th minute but Spence came to the rescue, the first half finished with Whitby having a series of corners which Shildon somehow managed to clear. The half time whistle came much to the relief of the away side who were 2-1 down

HALF TIME SHILDON 1-2 WHITBY TOWN

The Railwaymen came out on top in the first exchanges of the second half, new boy Ross Cowan’s missed a golden chance in the 58^th minute after Niven played him in a goal but he scuffed his shot well wide. Whitby barely threatened and Shildon looked ever closer to their equalising goal. In the 70^th minute Niven played a good ball to Masters who laid the ball into the path of Sub Dion Raitt who had made a great run but stumbled at the crucial moment and saw his chance go begging. It looked as if the home side were quite happy to slow the game down at every opportunity much to the frustration of the Shildon players and supporters. Tyson Masters then wasted a great chance in the 72nd minute after Matty Appleby failed to clear, Masters was clean in on goal but again the finish was poor and the home side were let off the hook. Shildon finally got the breakthrough in the 87^th minute, it was a ball by Niven that sent Emson clear and the young striker proved his worth by blasting the ball past Dibbage in the Whitby goal. After the whole side had worked so hard all over the pitch it was unthinkable with only a few minutes remaining that Shildon would made another defensive error, they did. Virtually straight from the restart Whitby went down and scored, Shildon should of just thumped the ball out of the ground as far as the seafront to get the replay they surely deserved but they didn’t and it was Danny Brunskill who found himself with the easiest of tap ins to send Whitby Town into the next round.

This was a heartbreaking result for Shildon who gave as good as they got against a team who play two leagues above them, if only Shildon could cut out silly defensives errors they would get the success everyone at the club is striving for.

FINAL SCORE SHILDON 2-3 WHITBY TOWN

S.A.F.C MATCH STATS

GOALS : EMSON 23, 87

SUBS: RAITT for HOWARTH 53 MINS

BOOKINGS: NIL