Newton Aycliffe were left to concentrate their efforts on the FA Vase this season after succumbing to Spennymoor in an FA Cup preliminary qualifying round replay on Tuesday night.
The Newtonians host fellow Northern League Division One side Guisborough in the Vase on Saturday September 7th (kick off 3pm, admission £6 adults, £4 concessions with under 12s free) – a competition that gives a much more realistic route to Wembley for semi-professional clubs.
Northern League clubs have lifted the trophy for the past five seasons and it was the most recent winners who knocked Aycliffe out of the other national cup competition in the midweek replay following a dramatic original meeting that saw Allan Oliver’s side seconds away from a giantkilling.
Spennymoor were heavy favourites going into the tie – Aycliffe had never beaten them and only found the net twice in half-a-dozen meetings – and arrived at Moore Lane Park last weekend in confident mood.
That showed as Moors raced into a two-goal lead by the half-hour mark, thanks to goals from Gavin Cogdon and Keith Graydon.
But the Royal Blues refused to lie down and accept defeat. Danny Earl took advantage of a mistake in the Moors defence to tap in an equaliser, before Jamie Owens exchanged passes with Martin Young and then curled in an unstoppable effort from the edge of the area.
With 10 minutes left, Danny Lambert raced half the length of the field, nutmegged the last defender and slotted home under visiting goalkeeper Kyle Hayes to give Aycliffe a deserved lead.
But as the game entered stoppage time, Dan Mitton was adjudged to have fouled Cogdon in the area and received his marching orders, before Mark Davison tucked in the penalty to force a replay.
At Brewery Field on Tuesday night, Kallum Griffiths gave Spennymoor the lead in the opening minute with an unstoppable 30-yard drive into the top corner.
Lewis Dodds fired in off the post just before the hour mark to double their advantage, before Cogdon wrapped up the tie with a third to secure a home tie against Lancaster City in the first qualifying round.
It was a disappointing night, following the drama of the weekend, though few expected Aycliffe to overcome a side whose spending power is vastly superior.
The Newtonians have a quick chance to get over the disappointment, with the FA Vase tie with Guisborough this weekend.
