Newton Aycliffe FC v Birtley Town FC

Elliot Gardner struck a well-taken second-half goal as Aycliffe marched on to their second successive Northern League win last night.
A crowd of 264 turned out to see Allan Oliver’s side climb up to fifth in the skilltraining Northern League with the narrow victory over Birtley Town.
Aycliffe’s visitors threatened to spoil the party when Stephen Burns put them ahead after nine minutes.
Dan Mellanby, the winning goal hero against Hebburn on Saturday, equalised with a superb effort just before the half-hour mark.
His strike partner Gardner clinched it for Aycliffe with his well-taken effort on the hour, and even though it was a nail-biting finish, the home side probably should have had the game buried long before the end.
But the win puts Aycliffe in good stead going into their back-to-back away games, with a trip to North Shields on Saturday followed by the long trek to Carlisle next Wednesday to play fellow new boys Gillford Park.
Aycliffe’s next home game is against Seaham Red Star, on Saturday August 22.