Shildon produced one of the shocks of the second preliminary round when they beat Stalybridge with a wonder goal by Billy Greulich-Smith at Dean Street on Saturday.

There were supposed to be 60 places on the football ladder between the two teams, but Shildon were the sharper and stronger side throughout the game, as they showed their placid Conference North visitors how to win an FA Cup tie.

Shildon manager Gary Forrest thought his team could have won by more. “I thought we could have been 2-0 up at half time, and it was then I thought we might regret the missed chances because I expected Stalybridge to improve for the second half.

“I thought we dominated the game from start to finish. We defended superbly, outbattled them in the middle and created some good chances.

“We told the lads to start on the front foot and be in their faces from the first whistle, which they did. I don’t think Stalybridge had as much as desire as we had.”

Greulich-Smith scored the goal that won the Durham Challenge Cup for the Railwaymen last season, and Forrest said; “I think Billy is the most under-rated player in the Northern League. I would have him in front of most players in this league. He is consistent, his workrate is superb, and he chases lost causes.”

The striker thought that Shildon were “fantastic”, saying: “It was good to get a goal, and it was great to get a good one!

“As a team I thought we were fantastic and we didn’t look out of place against a team three leagues above us. We put them under pressure at the right times and that’s ultimately how we forced then into a mistake for the goal. Everyine was top class and dug in when we needed to and there was never a stage in the game when I thought we looked like conceding.”

Shildon nearly scored early on, when Ben Wood controlled a right wing corner from Mark Hudson, turned quickly and forced a good save out of Stalybridge keeper Lewis King.

Shildon defender Darren Craddock was unlucky to see a header bounce down and then over the bar, while Bobby Moore and Craddock again headed narrowly over.

King made a good reaction save at close range from Micky Rae, and then went full stretch to stop a looping header from Greulich-Smith.

Stalybridge only threatened once, with a low shot from 20 yards by Paul Ennis that struck the base of the post.

Stalybridge briefly rallied at the start of the second half, but Shildon deservedly got the breakthrough on the hour with a superb individual goal. Greulich-Smith, who had a spell as a pro at Hartlepool, picked the ball up on the right, beat two defenders on a run into the box, and then unleashed a rasping left foot shot into the top left hand corner.

They could have had more. Greulich-Smith volleyed a teasing right wing cross by Jamie Harwood into the side netting, Moore headed into the keeper’s hands, and Wood had a shot blocked on the six yard line.

At the other end, Shildon keeper Kyle Hayes had little to do apart from confidently hold on to some hopeful balls into his area as Stalybridge came to life for the last ten minutes. If they’d scored it would have been a travesty.

Stalybridge manager Keith Briggs was gracious in defeat. “I thought we were second best all over the park, and I have to question the desire and commitment of some of my players. You couldn’t tell which was the full time side and which was the part time side.”

Newcastle Benfield couldn’t make it a second Northern League team through to the penultimate qualifying round when they lost 2-0 at Buxton.

Benfield held their own for 43 minutes when the Derbyshire side took the lead through Jamie Green from a few yards, and at the start of the second half Benfield keeper Andy Grainger saved a penalty. But Buxton scored their second through Greg Young from the corner that followed.

Newcastle Benfield manager Neil Saxton said; “The lads were excellent, I’m really proud.”

Blyth are definitely through thanks to an excellent 4-1 away win at Skelmersdale. Jarrett Rivers put them in the lead on 25 minutes, but Ken Strickland equalised.

Spartans took command in the second half with goals by Matthew Wade, Robbie Dale and Dan Maguire.

The draw for the next round will be made at lunchtime on Monday.