After a disappointing first-half, Seaham were left with a mountain to climb, but, despite coming close to producing a second-half comeback, they fell just short.

Seaham Red Star came close to producing a spectacular second-half comeback, but were edged out 3-2 by Shildon at Dean Street. 

Nathan Steel opened the scoring early in the game before firing home his second, off the post, just after the half-hour mark. 

The Railwaymen asserted their dominance, four minutes later, through Ben Trotter, which enforced a triple substitution from Seaham, before half-time. 

Curtis Coppen’s stunning volley and Paul Gardiner’s header sparked life into the Star, around the hour-mark, but the former was sent off and the hosts managed to hold on for the three points. 

Seaham began the new year with a victory against Newton Aycliffe and were looking to make it back-to-back wins as captain David Robinson returned to the starting line-up after suspension. 

It was the hosts, though, that started on the front foot and after going close through Steel and David Palmer, the Railwaymen broke the deadlock. 

A cross was played into the Seaham penalty area and Steel beat his marker in the air and nodded across and into the bottom corner. 

Mark Collingwood’s side went close through Anthony Myers and then Robinson, who latched on a loose ball and struck at Shaun Newbrook. 

Zak Atkinson’s cross floated across to the back post and fell kindly for Trotter, but the midfielder blazed over the crossbar from a few yards out. 

Shildon doubled their advantage on 31 minutes after a long ball from the back caught out the Seaham back line. 

This allowed Steel to break straight up the middle, shrugging off a challenge in the process, and the striker struck across and into the net off the post. 

Things went from bad to worse four minutes later as the hosts added a third goal and were dominating in all areas of the pitch. 

Matty Robson’s free-kick was flicked on by Atkinson, whose effort was saved well by Chris Bannon, but the rebound was swept home by Trotter. 

Atkinson should’ve made it four-nil on 37 minutes when he gathered Steel’s reverse-pass, but the striker hammered wide of the post, from inside the area. 

Moments after Robinson drew a good save from Newbrook, Collingwood made a bold move and made a triple substitution as Gardiner, Michael Chilton and Liam Gillesphey all came on. 

After an extremely disappointing display in the first-half, the Star came out fighting after half-time. Robinson tested Newbrook once more, on 48 minutes. 

The Seaham skipper fired off-target shortly after before the visitors pulled a goal back through a spectacular strike on 58 minutes. 

Gillesphey’s free-kick was headed up by a Shildon defender and Coppen caught the ball sweetly, on the volley, and it sailed across and into the top corner. 

Seaham certainly had the wind in their sails, three minutes later, when they scored a second goal to put them right back into the game. 

Scott Young’s cross was headed back across, to the centre of the box, by Dan Wilson and substitute Gardiner was on hand to place his header into the bottom corner. 

However, the Star were dealt a big blow when defender Coppen picked up his second yellow card of the match, on 71 minutes, leaving the visitors to play with 10-men for the rest of the game. 

Seaham’s final clear-cut opening arrived with 10 minutes to play. Nick Allen’s corner swung into the area, Wilson peeled away from his marker, but couldn’t keep his header down. 

The Railwaymen saw out the remaining minutes to hold on to the three points. Seaham are next in action next Saturday as they play host to high-flying Bishop Auckland. 

Shildon: Newbrook, Heywood, Robson, Duell, Curl, Mulligan, Palmer, Trotter, Atkinson, Steel, Hird (Ellison, 67) 

Subs Not Used: Eltringham, Greulich-Smith, Harker, Reay 

Seaham Red Star: Bannon, Young, Weldon, Allen, Coppen, McManara (Gilesphey), Taylor (Gardiner), Myers, Wilson, Robinson, Weirs(Chilton).

Subs not Used Wilkinson, Johnston