Newton Aycliffe Youth U23’s 4 v
Consett U23’s 4
An Easter Sunday game that would be a vital step towards claiming the league championship. A great crowd, of just over 60 spectators, came to watch a game that Aycliffe needed to take at least a point, in this penultimate game of the season.
Aycliffe started brightly with the visiting keeper pulling off some decent saves, before they took the lead, when a corner was headed in by Richard Murray. Then came possibly the worst 30 minutes played all season. A free kick out wide, by Consett, was fizzed into the 6 yard box. No one went with any of their runners and the ball was tapped in for the equaliser. Then Aycliffe gave away a penalty, when a ball over the top found the defenders on the wrong side and the tackle to get the ball left the Ref with no choice but to award a penalty, up stepped their striker to make it 2-1. This was followed by a long ball into the box that was dropped by our usually very dependable keeper, allowing them to tap home and make it 3-1. As half time approached, Consett got into the box and when it looked like they would score again Jon Hardy produced an amazing goal line clearance. The coaching staff were glad to get the lads in for the half time team talk. A slight change to the formation for the second half saw us get back into the game but still struggling to score. Then the game changed as Sam Thompson burst into the box and was brought down, penalty, and up stepped Jack Mortimer to drag us back into the game. Minutes later the lads were caught again, with the ball over the top, which we managed to usher out of play, but from the resulting corner we headed into our own net making it restore the 2 goal deficit. Aycliffe were still playing the better football, but struggling to create anything clear cut. Then Jack picked the ball up wide and, 35 yards out, worked his way to the edge of the box and fired in to make it 3-4. The lads dug deep knowing they needed to grab a point and in the last minute, Aycliffe won a corner and everyone, including the keeper, were in and around the Consett goal. Jordan’s corner ball found Richard who out jumped everyone, in a crowd of players, and nodded home the equaliser to grab a valuable point. Credit to the lads for battling to the end but they know they need to improve and get back to the levels we have set all season. Next game is Sunday 16th April, will be the final game v Eaglescliffe at the OakLeaf 1.30pm KO, when hopefully we take the league title. The support for these lads has been great all season, let’s hope for a big crowd.