FIXTURES
Saturday 12th January: Sunderland RCA (H) 3pm
Saturday 19th January: Celtic Nation (A) 3pm
Wednesday 23rd January: Durham (H) 7.30pm
Saturday 26th January: Norton & Stockton (H) 3pm
Saturday 2nd February: Hebburn (A) 3pm
www.newtonaycliffefc.co.uk
Newton Aycliffe began the calendar year with a battling 3-1 win away at Consett to boost their survival hopes.
Late goals from Fred Woodhouse (right0 and Sean Reay saw Allan Oliver’s side grab a vital victory and move up to 19th in the Northern League Division One table.
Aycliffe took the lead two minutes before the interval as Martin Young forced the Steelmen to play the ball back to their goalkeeper and Danny Earl harried Chris Elliot into a rushed clearance that fell straight to Woodhouse, who slotted into the net from close range.
Consett came close to a leveller before half-time but Scott Pocklington pulled off a brilliant save from Luke Sullivan’s free-kick.
The home side were handed a penalty on the hour mark when Pocklington brought down Andrew Cuthbertson in the area, but Sullivan, who had scored four when the side’s met in the League Cup in September, dragged his spot-kick wide.
But 10 minutes later Pocklington’s goal was breached. David Scorer’s acrobatic volley was flying wide of the target before Cuthbertson’s header diverted it into the net.
The game could have gone either way but it was the Newtonians who won the points.
With three minutes left Pocklington’s clearance was expertly held up by Reay and the former Darlington striker laid off Woodhouse who fired the ball past Elliot for his second of the contest.
And two minutes later the win was secured as Hinchley did superbly to set up Reay who made no mistake with the finish.
Aycliffe will look to make it six points from six to start of the year when they welcome Sunderland RCA to Moore Lane Park on Saturday. The Ryhope club lie in 12th in the table, seven points above the Royal Blues.
When the two clubs met in October, Sean Tarling struck a stoppage-time equaliser in a 2-2 draw. The skipper will be missing when the teams do battle again as he completes his two-match suspension for receiving 10 cautions this season.
He is joined on the sidelines by Mark Peck, who has a one-game ban, while Stephen Gibson is expected to be out for a month with a torn hamstring.
Kick off at Moore Lane Park is 3pm, with admission £5 for adults and £3 for concessions.
