This game saw a return to the starting line-up following his niggling hamstring injury of last year’s leading scorer Kallum Hannah, with Matty Lovatt returning to the heart of the defence, Jimmy Ward at left back and Joe Scaife Wheatley into the midfield. Missing out due to his wedding was Louis Whensley with Captain Stav Roberts and Adam Nicholson also missing due to family commitments.

The game started with the weather dry but within minutes of the kick off the players and spectators were met with an absolute downpour that very quickly left lying water of the top of the playing surface. However just before the heavens opened Stockton were in the lead with a brilliant team goal. A clearance from Stockton’s defence was controlled on his chest 30 yards from his own goal by Tony Johnson, the ball was swept out to the left wing where Max Craggs collected the ball, drove into space before picking out Kallum Hannah in the left channel and in one movement the ball was volleyed into the far top corner of Silksworth’s net from 25 yards, brilliant. Stockton were well on top and playing some very good football that SIlksworth just couldn’t contain and with better finishing could have increased their lead before the interval. However the heavens opened and playing football was not an easy task for either side in the conditions and half time came with the score still 1 0.

The second half started with a Stockton goal on 52 minutes when Tom Coulthard swept home following an un-cleared corner. Only 4 minutes later and Stockton scored another great goal, Joe Scaife Wheatley picked the ball up in his own half centrally, drove at the Silksworth defence before sliding a perfect pass between two Silksworth defenders for Tony Johnson, to control run on and slip past the goalkeeper for 3 0. Stockton were now rampant and 2 minutes later Tom Coulthard claimed his second of the match to put the result beyond doubt. Sloppy defending from Stockton however presented Silksworth with an opportunity to get one back in the 79^th minute with Adam Storey scoring the goal but this only spurred Stockton on and Tony Johnson completed the scoring in the 83^rd minute to make it a 5 1 victory for Stockton Town.

Next up for Stockton is Annfield Plain at home in the Durham Challenge Cup, next Saturday at 2pm. This is a Cup the Club always wishes to do well in competing against teams from higher leagues and if we can get a victory on Saturday it would be great to get one of the bigger Clubs in the next round.