Wednesday, 15 May 2013
EBAC Northern League Division 1
Please click here for Sky Tyne and Wear video.
Finally we can say that the season is over and unfortunately history has repeated itself as relegation has followed three seasons of Northern League Division 1 football. Of course the season isn't quite over yet and there could be a sting in the tail. All should be revealed on the 17 May 2013 when the FA committee will make its final decisions on promotion and relegation issues.
The final game of the season brought a weary looking Shildon team to Meadow Park, with nothing left to play for both teams looked below their best as they played in front of both Sky TV and BBC televison cameras.
The main pre match action took place in the bar where Shildon's secretary John Atkinson managed to secure the release of a bottle of white wine from "Defty's Diner" for the princely sum of £3.00. Bargaining Defty down from the dizzy heights of £5.00. Who says that there is no generosity in the Northern League.
The off field problems continued at RCA with the theft last Friday/Saturday of scaffolding poles used on the walkway to seperate the players from the spectators.
In the opening minute Wood should have put Shildon in front when Mark Foden fumbled a shot into the path of Wood who somehow managed to slide the ball wide of the upright. A minute later and the same player had another chance, but with only the keeper to beat he again fired wide.
A run by Shaw on the left wing almost produced a goal when he played in McGuinness but the RCA defender's shot cleared the bar.
In the 15th minute a lovely pass from Close found Kane and he skipped past two defenders before getting in his shot which was deflected for a corner.
RCA were passing the ball well and Close seemed to be at the start of every promising move, a through ball from him to Clarke at the far post set up Shaw, he received Clarke's header inside the box turned and shot but his effort was turned round teh post by Jake Johnson.
Shildon took the lead in the 40th minute when a corner from Hughes was met by Briggs and took a deflection past the helpless Foden in the RCA goal.
Early in the second half keeper Foden was injured in a collision with Owens and went off to be replaced by RCA's only substitiute Craig Shields.
On the hour mark Shildon were 2 up with a dubious goal. A cross from Owen was headed in at the far post Hughes, who looked to be well off-side inside the six yard area, but the goal was allowed to stand.
The game was over as a contest now and both teams looked leg weary and ready for the final whistle, but there was time for another unusual goal when Adam Johnston scored direct from a corner.
3-0 it finished and probably on chances Shildon just edged it, it might have been a different sort of game had there been something to play for.