Newton Aycliffe FC v Crook Town FC

By Paul McGeary
Aycliffe booked their place in the second round of the Ernest Armstrong Memorial Trophy with a spirited win at Crook Town last night.
Allan Oliver will be hoping his Aycliffe side can visit his forming ground The Millfield every week as it brings out a certain togetherness in his team, whoever he sends out on duty.
With first choice centre back pairing of John Close and Paul Stout missing, Jonathan Pennock slotted in alongside Dave Forrest, still not 100% fit.
Elliot Gardner had another strike partner, in the shape of former Willington man Paul Dawes and both Wayne Hall and Anth Campbell returned for missing Mark Wood and Liam Cooper.

Crook started brightly, Adam Nicholls sidefooting against the crossbar from 12 yards following good work from Steven Brown.
Crook were passing the ball better on a greasy surface but Aycliffe turned this on its head after 17 minutes when Josh Knox's slide-rule pass put new signing Dawes clear to finish exquisitely over the advancing David Lanning.

Nicholls got the equaliser some 10 minutes later when his 20-yard drive found Stevie Richardson's bottom right corner but Aycliffe got their noses back in front when free-kick 'specialist' Anth Campbell rifled home a dead-ball after 39 minutes.

The second half petered out, Crook asking all the questions but Aycliffe answering readily, Forrest and Pennock in particular outstanding. Richardson saved well in injury time to ensure Aycliffe's passage to the second round of the divisional competition.