Newton Aycliffe Youth Women FC 2 v Chester-le-Street United Women Reserves 1
Last league game of the season and Aycliffe needed a win, and get favours from other games, to guarantee second place and promotion, and that’s exactly what happened.
From the kick off the game was end to end, but Aycliffe couldn’t get past the CLS defence. Then 17 minutes in and Kate wins the ball, with 30 yards to goal she got in front of the defender, drove into the box and slotted the ball past the keeper. Just after the half hour mark and Aycliffe double the lead, Kate this time popped up with an assist, poking the ball through a gap in the defence for Alex to run onto and shot past the keeper, HT 2-0. Second half and a poor clearance led to a shot from distance for CLS that ended in the back of the net. With CLS now on the front foot Aycliffe got all of the subs on, for fresh legs, to get a grip of the game. A few chances came and went for both teams, but Aycliffe held on to take the three valuable points. POTM Kate Williams, one goal, one assist and then filled in at the back to ensure we got the win. Elsewhere and the only team that could catch Aycliffe were beaten meaning Aycliffe finish the season runners up, also still in two cup competitions, so still plenty to play for.
Durham Corinthians 2 v Newton Aycliffe Youth Seniors 3
Away game in the league and, after last week, all that mattered was three points and get the surge to the title back on track. Twenty players available, which was a massive help with having two games in 48 hours, again, this week. The team was shuffled around to give Aycliffe the best chance of winning both games. A very strong wind made football difficult, but the lads started brightly and created chances, nothing clear cut, but took the lead when a passing move found Andrew Burrows thirty yards out, he moved forward and struck home. This was followed by a corner from Jack Mortimer which was flicked on and Corbyn Mitchell finished neatly two up after 30 minutes and controlling the game. Then a mistake and wind influenced ball in the box, saw Durham grab one back, followed five minutes later with a Durham equaliser. Aycliffe were playing better into the second half but were still short of their normal standard of play. However, Aycliffe finally found the winner when Kieran Maughan set away Joseph Fawcett who squared for Jack Mortimer to score the winner. Scrappy game, but the three points secured. MOM went to Charlie Jackson on his first start for the club, looking at home in centre of midfield.
