Newton Aycliffe enjoyed a return to winning ways with an excellent performance at Whitley Bay. The three points from the trip to the seaside was fully deserved with Aycliffe putting recent disappointments behind them.
Right from the start Aycliffe took a positive approach to the game with the Bay defenders given no time to settle on the ball. Aycliffe’s midfield & forwards chased and harried for every ball trying to force mistakes from their opponents’ defence.
After 14 mins Jordan Laidler had the first serious attempt with a free-kick from 30yds which just crept over the bar. Eight minutes later the first goal came. Martin Young won the ball midfield, shrugging off a challenge and fired home from outside the box. Just two minutes later Young got his second with another from similar range after charging through the Bay midfield.
Aycliffe’s relentless pressure continued and after 29mins Stuart Banks saw his shot from 20yds denied by the crossbar. After 38mins Paul Garthwaite scored Aycliffe’s third goal. The ball found Banks on the right who squared it to his skipper to finish.
Not surprisingly Whitley Bay made a change for the second half bringing on prolific goalscorer Paul Chow. The game became more difficult for Aycliffe but chances still presented themselves. On 65mins Banks forced a double save from the Bay keeper.
Whitley Bay pulled a goal back after with twenty minutes left. With the entire Aycliffe team back to defend a corner their efforts proved unsuccessful. The ball fell to Robbie Bird who fired past James Winter in the Aycliffe goal.
For a brief moment Aycliffe fans began to worry but any fears were laid to rest just two minutes later when Banks took advantage of a fortuitous rebound to shoot home.
That settled the matter & Aycliffe were able to celebrate a league win for the first time in four games. This result puts Aycliffe 17th in the Ebac Northern League Division One table with two vital games in the next week against teams below them in the league.
Forthcoming Fixtures
Tuesday 24 February (home) – Sunderland RCA 7:30pm
Saturday 28 February (home) – Billingham Synthonia 3:00pm
Tuesday 3 March (away) – Washington 7:30pm – League Cup QF
