Report

By Paul McGeary

Newton Aycliffe opened their pre-season account with a defeat at home to Northern League new boys Easington Colliery.

In a game which saw both teams missing several regulars from last term's line-ups, The Colliers prevailed by the odd goal in three.

Simon Todd headed the visitors ahead on 26 minutes when he rose unmarked to head a left wing centre past Scott Pocklington.

Three minutes later and Glen Robson, Allan Oliver's latest signing got the scores level when he finished off a move engineered by Elliot Gardner and Fred Woodhouse inside the area.

The winner came five minutes before the break when Chris Flounders advanced unchallenged to the edge of the area before accurately finding Pocklington's bottom left-hand corner with a fine left-footed effort.

Robson missed narrowly with a couple of second half headers while substitute Dan Mellanby saw a left-footed effort parried by visiting 'keeper Chris Rooks.

Team: Pocklington; Broom, Oliver, Peck, Campbell; McMullen, Gardner, Robinson, Owen (c); Woodhouse, Robson.
Subs: Mellanby, Knox, M.Wood, Hendrix, Sowerby