Shildon manager Gary Forrest reckoned that Norton United’s goal was “blessed” after the last remaining Northern League team in the FA Cup drew 1-1 at Community Drive on Saturday.

Shildon left the Potteries hoping that missed chances won’t come back to haunt them when they stage the replay against the EvoStik League First Division South side on Wednesday night at Dean Street, but surely a repeat performance will see them into the competition proper for the first time since 2003.

“I was disappointed that we were only 1-0 up at half time, I thought we could have scored more goals,” said manager Gary Forrest. “The lads were a bit down, they knew they should have gone through.

“We were in a great situation. We created so many chances, but we couldn’t take them. Their goal was blessed at times, and their keeper pulled off some amazing saves, especially in the last minute.

“The lads are frustrated that they haven’t won away, but hopefully they’ll be able to put that right on Wednesday. Norton will now have the problem that we faced for our replay against Stourbridge – getting lads off work, then making their way through heavy traffic for four hours.

“Hopefully we won’t regret those missed chances, we should have been two or three up before they scored. The longer it was 1-0, then they always had hope of getting back into the game.

“But we’ve done well in replays in the run so far, we’ve beaten Whitby and Stourbridge so let’s hope we can make it three.”

Forrest had to make a quick change just minutes before their eighth game in the competition when midfielder Lee Scroggins pulled up injured in the warm up, and was replaced by Danny Richmond, But the enforced switch didn’t seem to affect the Railwaymen, as they started the game well, and took the lead on 8 minutes when Ben Wood crossed from the right for Mark Hudson to head into the net past keeper Danny Roberts.

They took control of the game, and had a couple of half chances before they missed a good opening just after the half hour mark, but Wood headed wide from a few yards.

Norton were deservedly reduced to ten men on 37 minutes when full back Paul Taylor was red carded for elbowing Wood in the face, the striker losing a tooth as a result.

Another chance went begging a few minutes after the restart, when Wood crossed to Paul Connor, but the former Stoke striker headed into the keeper’s hands.

However, Norton rolled their sleeves up and worked hard to try and get back into the game, and Lee Cropper’s effort was tipped over the bar by Shildon keeper Kyle Hayes.

Connor headed just over at the other end, but Norton levelled on 65 minutes when Shildon defender Jon Brackstone turned a dangerous cross into his own net.

Connor missed a great chance to regain the lead when he broke away, but Roberts pulled off a good save, then sub Micky Rae was twice just off target.

And in the last minute, Roberts pulled off his best save, when he blocked Sam Hodgson’s shot, and then somehow blocked the follow up from Mark Hudson.

Shildon striker Ben Wood said; “We should have won with the chances we had, but we will go again on Wednesday in another tough game and hopefully get a win from there.”

Shildon will be ball number 52 in tonight’s draw.

Shildon: Hayes, Brackstone, Hodgson, Atkin, Jones, Hudson, Richmond (sub Harwood 60), Doninger, Wood (sub Rae 72) Connor, Rundle (sub Richardson 78).