Under 23’s 2 v Redcar 1
Very limited squad wise with only 13 travelling to the game, which we knew was going to be tough as Redcar have seven of their 23’s regularly playing Northern League and recently beat top of our league.
It was all about the 3 points, more than how we got them. In very windy conditions it was never going to be a pretty game. We started on the front foot without testing their keeper, from a free-kick Jack Mortimer struck the cross bar, but then from a Mitchell Simmons’ corner – Richard Murray headed home. Jack and Sam Thompson both saw Redcar’s keeper pull off decent saves, we lost a loose ball in centre midfield and one through-ball split us, allowing Redcar to equalise. A 40-yard volley from Richard nearly found the back of the net. Half time 1-1.
Early in the second half Lewis Greenwood, having played though the pain barrier for the team, made way for Dylan Howe on his return to the team.
A good though-ball sent Jack clear, and his shot saw the keeper pull off a great save, the follow up fell to Danny Godfrey & the keeper pulled off the best saves I have seen at his level this season, to keep the game level. We then won and subsequently missed a penalty.
It looked like it may not be our day, we rolled the dice again using our last sub, pushing Jon Hardy up to the right wing and going 4-4-2. It soon paid off when the extra pressure saw Redcar give the ball away, which Dylan found, a perfect ball to Jack to slam home!
Eight minutes to hold out, Cameron Nicholson and Jordan Wintersgill at centre half, soaked up the pressure to see us home to a vital win.
As the results came in from elsewhere, they have gone our way, with top and second drawing and 4th and 5th also drawing. So, we move second with 2 games in hand, 4 league games to play, if we win all 4 we win the league by 2 points. It’s going to be very tough but it’s in our hands.
A couple of players to mention, Mark Isigoma had his first start today for 23’s and looks better and better at this level every week. Lastly, Mitchell Simmons, he’s gone from a bench player to over the last 4 games being the first name on the team sheet, captaining the side in last 3 games. He’s always had the footballing ability, but often lets himself down discipline wise. But hopefully, for his own football journey, the penny has dropped and deservedly got MOM.
Newton Aycliffe Youth Women 8 v Doxford Athletic Women 0
A trip up to Sunderland to face a team that ran us close last time out, with a few players missing a slight change in position was required for a few players and everyone played their part.
The game started slow but plenty of chances came our way, it took just 8 minutes to open the scoring, Jess played through what was the pass of the game, a perfectly weighted ball split the defence, Amber was quickest to react, holding off the defender she calmly slotted past the keeper, 0-1. Next up to score was Alex, this time Jordan with the pass and a carbon copy finish from Alex to make 0-2. Alex then got her second and Aycliffe’s third, this time assisted by Lottie, 0-3. Time for one more before half time, Amber grabbed her second of the game assisted by Kate. HT 0-4.
Second half and a change of formation moving to 3 at the back, it took a while to settle down but on the 59th minute Jordan popped up with another assist this time teeing the ball up for Morgan to strike from distance leaving the keeper no chance, 0-5. From the kick off Aycliffe quickly won the ball back, Kate got the ball wide left but was brought down, free kick. Annabelle from 30 yards whipped in the free kick beating the keeper, Lottie timed her run perfectly and headed into an empty net, 0-6. Lottie now moved up from defence and wasn’t long before she got her second, some good build up play and a perfect through ball from Alex found Lottie in the 18 yard box, Lottie controlled the ball and stuck it sweet to get her second, 0-7. Time for one more, a great one two between Morgan and Sophie was finished off with a thunderbolt from Sophie from the edge of the box for her first goal for the Club, 0-8. It was all about keeping a clean sheet and in the last seconds of the game Doxford broke through, Courtney, with not much to do all game, was alert pulling off a save to keep the clean sheet, final score 0-8.
Lots of possession for Aycliffe, Doxford we’re very hard to break down at times and defended well, this didn’t play to our strengths as we like to stretch teams, but Doxford were very compact, so we needed to change it up. Goals today came from all over the pitch. Player of the match went to someone who assisted goals and scored today, she covered every blade of grass and did her fair share of defending. Player of the Match was Morgan, well done!
Finally, a big thank you to our sponsors:
Away Kit Sponsor – AngloTech Group
Match Ball Sponsor – The Post Boy Ferryhill
Team Sponsor – McDonald’s Newton Aycliffe
Badge Sponsor – Signs Express South Durham & Teesside
Captain Sponsor – Swim Buddies.