Saturday 13th January
Newton Aycliffe 2 v Liversedge 0
Newton Aycliffe defeated Liversedge in this mid table clash in the NPL East. The result will feel like much needed revenge for Aycliffe considering the 5-0 defeat at Liversedge earlier in the season.
Aycliffe’s first goal was well worked when Liam Adamson crossed to Ryan Barrow who ran from the bottom of his own half and his low cross allowed Cole Kiernan to easily tap it in to make it 1-0 in just nine minutes.
Cole Kiernan was unlucky not to score with a curling volley shortly after the goal. His shot went narrowly over the bar. Chances would keep coming for Aycliffe, Cieran Jackson hit a powerful strike just inside the box that forced Liversedge goalkeeper Jordan Porter into parrying out for a corner. Aycliffe would get a free kick just outside the box, but the resulting kick went well wide. Liversedge’s new signing Eddie Church would fire a long range shot, but Nathan Fisher didn’t even need to move to save it.
Aycliffe would see out the half deserved 1-0 leaders against a Liversedge side who hadn’t shown much for the home side to worry about. The second half would be a niggly affair, with Liversedge resorting to some very agricultural tackles to try and keep Aycliffe at bay. Liversedge would gain some free kicks of their own, but Fisher was resolute in making sure Aycliffe’s lead remained intact.
Aycliffe had a golden opportunity to make it 2-0 when Ethan Wood passed to Kiernan but, instead of finishing, Kiernan unselfishly passed to Wayne Whitfield who fired his shot straight into Liversedge’s Joe Skarz.
Liversedge’s defenders appeared sluggish throughout the game and Cieran Jackson took advantage of that in the 71st minute. He found the ball after a free kick and danced past two Liversedge defenders and the goalkeeper to let the ball gently roll into the net to make it 2-0. Leaving little doubt in anyone’s mind in regards to the days result.
The game would finish a 2-0 victory and make it yet another home win for Newton Aycliffe, they now haven’t lost at home since late October. They also jumped up one place to finish the day in 8th and are now just two spots and four points outside the playoffs.
Newton Aycliffe’s next fixture at the Securicorp Stadium is on Tuesday 23rd January when Horden CW will be the visitors for a Frank Pattison Durham Challenge Cup Quarter Final. The winner of that tie will travel to Whickham for the Semi Final.
Photo by Yvonne Wood, Cole Kiernan celebrates his goal against Liversedge. Match Report by Ryan Livingston.
