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Wed 07 Apr 2010
Hebburn 
Newton Aycliffe FC
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Newton Aycliffe FC v Hebburn
Stephen Cunliffe7 Apr 2010 - 19:30
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Match report
By Martin Walker
Newton Aycliffe continued their top-four form with a deserved point at Hebburn Town.
Allan Oliver’s side stretched their unbeaten run to four games with a game they arguably should have won.
The visitors missed a number of chances in both halves before losing their early lead late in the game, and ended up holding out for the point as Hebburn finished strongly.
It was centre-back John Close, who enjoyed another fine performance at the back with man-of-the-match Paul Stout, who put Aycliffe in the lead after just four minutes.
The big defender turned a loose ball in from close range after Hebburn goalkeeper Garry McCartney miss-punched an Aycliffe corner inside the area.
Striker Dan Lennon, in for the injured Dan Mellanby, could have doubled the lead after 10 minutes when he met Stuart Owen’s pin-point cross but only managed a tame header which McCartney gathered.
Hebburn’s first shot on goal came in the 20th minute, with debutant Scott Poclkington gathering Graham Matthewson’s effort at the second attempt.
But Aycliffe wasted another great chance to make it two after 24 minutes. Elliot Gardner laid a near-perfect ball into the area for the onrunning Fred Woodhouse, but the winger’s first-time effort was straight at the ‘keeper and he saved comfortably.
Aycliffe had another three chances in the space of 20 second-half minutes. Anth Campbell burst forward on the hour mark and, inside the area, opted to shoot when he could have squared to the unmarked Gardner, but his effort was deflected clear.
Owen went close 15 minutes later when Gardner challenged McCartney on the edge of the box and the loose ball rolled to the left-winger who clipped a first-time effort over.
Then on 80 minutes Woodhouse sent Owen free down the left and he turned smartly inside before hitting the side netting with a right-footed effort.
Hebburn were barely in the game and punished Aycliffe after 83 minutes when the visitors failed to clear and Michael Armstrong’s right-wing cross found an unmarked Shaun Carroll six yards from goal to head home.
The goal rallied the home side, who have dragged themselves away from the bottom places with some good recent form, and Anthony Myers forced a good save from Pocklington after 85 minutes, tipping his header on to the bar.
And Aycliffe nearly pressed the self-destruct button moments later when Daniel Hall found more space inside the box before heading inches wide of Pocklington’s left-hand post.
Aycliffe nearly had the last say in injury time when Campbell again burst forward before squaring to substitute Dan Robinson, but the midfielder ballooned his effort over the bar.
Newton Aycliffe continued their top-four form with a deserved point at Hebburn Town.
Allan Oliver’s side stretched their unbeaten run to four games with a game they arguably should have won.
The visitors missed a number of chances in both halves before losing their early lead late in the game, and ended up holding out for the point as Hebburn finished strongly.
It was centre-back John Close, who enjoyed another fine performance at the back with man-of-the-match Paul Stout, who put Aycliffe in the lead after just four minutes.
The big defender turned a loose ball in from close range after Hebburn goalkeeper Garry McCartney miss-punched an Aycliffe corner inside the area.
Striker Dan Lennon, in for the injured Dan Mellanby, could have doubled the lead after 10 minutes when he met Stuart Owen’s pin-point cross but only managed a tame header which McCartney gathered.
Hebburn’s first shot on goal came in the 20th minute, with debutant Scott Poclkington gathering Graham Matthewson’s effort at the second attempt.
But Aycliffe wasted another great chance to make it two after 24 minutes. Elliot Gardner laid a near-perfect ball into the area for the onrunning Fred Woodhouse, but the winger’s first-time effort was straight at the ‘keeper and he saved comfortably.
Aycliffe had another three chances in the space of 20 second-half minutes. Anth Campbell burst forward on the hour mark and, inside the area, opted to shoot when he could have squared to the unmarked Gardner, but his effort was deflected clear.
Owen went close 15 minutes later when Gardner challenged McCartney on the edge of the box and the loose ball rolled to the left-winger who clipped a first-time effort over.
Then on 80 minutes Woodhouse sent Owen free down the left and he turned smartly inside before hitting the side netting with a right-footed effort.
Hebburn were barely in the game and punished Aycliffe after 83 minutes when the visitors failed to clear and Michael Armstrong’s right-wing cross found an unmarked Shaun Carroll six yards from goal to head home.
The goal rallied the home side, who have dragged themselves away from the bottom places with some good recent form, and Anthony Myers forced a good save from Pocklington after 85 minutes, tipping his header on to the bar.
And Aycliffe nearly pressed the self-destruct button moments later when Daniel Hall found more space inside the box before heading inches wide of Pocklington’s left-hand post.
Aycliffe nearly had the last say in injury time when Campbell again burst forward before squaring to substitute Dan Robinson, but the midfielder ballooned his effort over the bar.
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