Newton Aycliffe FC continue their Emirates FA Cup adventure this Saturday, 19th August with a trip to Albion Sports. The Bradford side play their home games at Farsley Celtic’s ground near Leeds. Aycliffe earned their place in the Preliminary Round with a win against Chester-Le-Street on the first day of the season. Since then Aycliffe have played two home games in the Ebac Northern League, both ending in draws.
After last week’s 1-1 result against Steve Harmison’s Ashington Aycliffe welcomed Guisborough Town to Moore Lane last Saturday. This was as they say a ‘game of two halves’, as Aycliffe squandered a 3-0 half-time lead. They totally dominated the first half, and should have been out of sight, but missed good chances. They started well and were ahead on 3 minutes when Kurt Matthews beat the full back before rifling a shot low into the corner. Craig Hutchinson then got through one-on-one, but keeper Nixon pulled off a good save. On 13 minutes, Aycliffe made it 2-0 when Jamie Davis & Hutchinson opened up the defence for Matty Pennal to round the keeper. Both sides then had the ball in the net during the next 10 minutes, but both were deemed to be offside. In the 32nd minute Hutchinson broke through, but was forced wide by the keeper; he twisted around and scored with an audacious chip over the keeper from an acute angle.
Grant Hickman and Pennal then missed good chances before half-time. HT 3-0. Guisborough started the second half with intent after a dressing down from their Manager. However, there was no hint of what was to come. On 59 minutes a free kick wasn’t cleared by the Aycliffe defence, and Connor Scott put it past home keeper James Winter. Within a minute, Scott got his and Guisborough’s second when he headed in from a free kick. Then two minutes later, it was 3-3 when Winter made a good save but the ball was put back into the penalty area for Steven Roberts to get there first and score the equaliser. Aycliffe then managed to steady the ship. Both sides went for a winner, but there were no further breakthroughs. FT 3-3. MOTM : Kurt Matthews. Attendance 92.
