Aycliffe slipped to 12th in the skilltraining Northern League second division with their fourth defeat of the season yesterday.
Allan Oliverâ€™s side were beaten 1-0 by Whickham thanks to a Chris Laws second-half goal in front of 214 people at Moore Lane Park.
Dion Raitt and Dan Mitton missed out but Aycliffe welcomed back into the starting line-up former Darlington striker Dan Mellanby and experienced defender Paul Stout.
Following a few games out, goalkeeper Stevie Richardson was recalled between the sticks and there was a debut at left-back for Kevin Yorke, a strapping defender recommended to the management by fellow defender John Close.
Aycliffe nearly took the lead when Paul Broomâ€™s centre flicked just over by Mellanby arriving in the six-yard box to meet with a headed effort.
A minute later Phil Caley went through but lacked certain conviction and in cutting back onto his left foot, allowed Whickham to regroup and sound out any real threat in his ensuing shot.
Mellanby was slowly finding his feet following a spell on the treatment table and twice before the break he forced â€˜keeper Stephen Robinson into saves, the second on the stroke of half-time a fantastic one-handed effort, off balance following an intuitive effort on the turn from the edge of the box by Aycliffeâ€™s number nine.
Just before the hour, the balance shifted and Aycliffe never recovered from almost conceding from a free-kick wide on the right. Captain Adam McClane fizzed an effort which Richardson did well to parry, but many in the ground thought his wonders came after the ball had crossed the goal line. The linesman, however, backed Aycliffeâ€™s â€˜keeper.
Seven minutes later though and Richardsonâ€™s hard work came undone. Asked by Stout to clear a back pass, he scuffed the ball straight down the centre of his box to Graeme King who slid Chrissy Laws through to beat the beleaguered custodian.
In the dying stages Caley had two excellent chances to equalise and rescue a point but his first effort was despatched into the side netting after some excellent control.
And in injury-time he failed to make contact with Stewie Owenâ€™s in-swinging free-kick, the ball running harmlessly past the back post.

Match Preview

Match details

Match date

Kickoff

Attendance

Team Sponsors