Newton Aycliffe FC v Thornaby

By Martin Walker
Aycliffe climbed back up to eighth in the skilltraining Northern League second division with a workmanlike display against Thornaby at Darlington RA's Brinkburn Road.
Striker Elliott Gardner was back among the goals, bagging a brace, while Dion Raitt also chipped in with two to claim Aycliffe's sixth away win of the season.
With the game switched to Darlington due to electrical problems at Thornaby, the visitors got off to a flying start and took the lead after 10 minutes when Dan Robinson's acrobatic throughball found the onrunning Gardner who chipped goalkeeper Patrick Pisani with a cool finish.
It was Gardner's first league goal since Aycliffe's 5-3 win against the RA at Brinkburn Road on December 12.
Raitt doubled Aycliffe's lead after 15 minutes when Pisani struggled to clear Steve Richardson's long ball and the midfielder finished with a clever first-time effort.
Gardner and Sean Tarling both went close to adding to the scoresheet before half-time while Stuart Owen also hit a post, but Aycliffe had to settle for a two-goal lead at the break.
Thornaby threatened to punish them when they pulled a goal back 10 minutes after the re-start when unmarked defender Chris Moore rose to thump Matthew Crossan's right-sided free-kick past helpless Richardson.
The home side pressured a little before Gardner all-but made sure of the spoils a shade after the hour-mark when he hammered in Dan Lennon's lay-off from close range.
Raitt made it four two minutes later when he was fouled just outside the area - he dusted himself down to find Pisani's bottom left-hand corner with a clinical set-piece.
Thornaby pulled another back after 82 minutes when busy midfielder Lewis Wood's 20-yard shot was deflected off Paul Stout and past Richardson.