Sheffield 2 v Newton Aycliffe 2
Saturday 10th August 2024
Newton Aycliffe began their NPL East campaign in dramatic fashion at Sheffield FC. Brian Atkinson gave competitive debuts to goalkeeper Jim Pollard and defender Alex Nelson, all while Joe Ferguson and Dean Thexton made their first competitive appearances since returning to the club.
Cieran Jackson had Aycliffe’s first big chance when he was one on one with Sheffield keeper Myles Wright after outpacing Jack Dolman, but Wright parried it away. Ethan Wood, Liam Adamson and Dean Thexton also had chances from outside the box. Adamson came closest, with his curling shot, forcing a quick reflex save out of Wright.
While Aycliffe’s chances had, for the most part, been from outside the box, the first goal would come from within it. Wayne Whitfield jinked and dribbled past four Sheffield men to put it home with ease to make it 1-0 to Aycliffe within 30 minutes. Sheffield’s first chance came via Luke Mangham crossing to Connor Cutts, Cutts was one on one with Pollard and at an advantageous angle, but he completely skied the ball. The first half would finish 1-0.
The second half saw Sheffield show more of a threat. The Sheffield pressure continued, and it eventually paid off when Dolman’s cross to Luke Aldrich was fired in at close range to make it 1-1. Sheffield had a series of narrowly wide headers, almost like a foreshadowing of what was to come. In the 85th minute Connor Cutts’ header went into the net to make it 2-1. Sheffield then seemed intent on parking the bus, with almost every red and black player in their own half. However, Aycliffe are no strangers to scoring late, and are no strangers to scoring late against Sheffield either, considering their last minute equaliser the last time both sides met in March.
Joe Ferguson was a popular player in his last stint at Aycliffe, and his work rate in the second half proved to be a game changer when his cross into the box found the head of Cole Kiernan to make it 2-2 and let Aycliffe claim a point in the games dying embers.
That next game is another home fixture on Saturday 17th August, sees Aycliffe play host to Whitley Bay in the Preliminary Round of the Emirates FA Cup.
Photo by Yvonne Wood, Wayne Whitfield opened the scoring for Aycliffe at Sheffield. Match report by Ryan Livingston.