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Sat 16 Apr 2011
Newton Aycliffe FCBirtley Town
E Gardner (0'), W Byrne (0'), (0'), B Wood (0'), (0')
5
1
Newton Aycliffe FC v Birtley Town
Stephen Cunliffe16 Apr 2011 - 15:00
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Match report
By Paul McGeary
Newton Aycliffe were presented with the second division championship trophy after this emphatic 5-1 rout of mid-table Birtley Town.
Having secured the title two weeks previous, league Chairman Mike Amos and chief sponsor Ann Barkas handed the silverware to Aycliffe skipper Sean Tarling and Dan Mellanby in front of over 300 people at Moore Lane Park.
The win stretched the Newtonians unbeaten league run to a huge 28 games with boss Allan Oliver challenging his side to finish the campaign in style and extend the run to 30.
Top scorer Warren Byrne bagged another brace taking his tally to 44 for the season while substitute Ben Wood matched his haul with two of his own. Elliot Gardner’s 20th of the term completed the victory with just Andrew McIntosh’s second half effort spoiling the day for the hosts.
Byrne’s first came after just four minutes. Mellanby cutely teed up Josh Knox who fired off the right-hand upright from the edge of the area with the rebound falling favourably at the feet of the former Shildon man who knocked the ball into the empty net with ‘keeper Dan Regan struggling to regain his position.
Gardner almost doubled the lead six minutes later but after superbly chesting down Stuart Owen’s right-wing centre, the 21-year-old saw his effort cleared off the line by the covering Jonathan Roseby.
Two minutes later the ex-Chester-le-Street forward did get his name on the scoresheet after he turned Shaun McAvoy inside-out before coolly slotting home from 12-yards, picking out the corner of Regan’s goal with ease.
Chase McMullen nearly added a third before half-time but found Regan a tough opponent as the Birtley stopper expertly saved the Aycliffe winger’s rasping half-volley at his near post, pushing the ball wide for a corner.
In the second period Oliver’s side got their third as Byrne fired home from the penalty spot after Andrew Grant-Soulsby felled the Aycliffe man after a fine three-man move involving Dan Mitton, Mellanby and Byrne himself had carved open the visitors defence.
Wood was introduced from the bench on 64 minutes and just three minutes later the former Sunderland Academy product stung the palms of Regan once more as the ‘keeper again parried wide for a corner.
Giant defender John Close was next to go near for the champions as his towering header from Mitton’s cross was cleared off the line by Grant-Soulsby but Aycliffe did get their fourth two minutes later when Wood netted his seventh of the season.
Mellanby and Gardner linked up well with the latter sending the 19-year-old clean through on goal to steer the ball past Regan despite his best efforts at sparing his team once more.
The visitors got a goal back with 16 minutes remaining when McIntosh rounded Close and beat Scott Pocklington in the home goal at the second attempt but Wood restored the four-goal cushion with a fine strike after Mellanby again sent him clear with an exquisite through-ball.
Mellanby almost capped his day off in the closing stages but his first effort was ruled out for offside while his 93rd minute thunderbolt following Fred Woodhouse’s pass came crashing back off the bar.
Star Man – Dan MELLANBY
On any other day Gardner would have stood out from the crowd after a fine afternoon in the middle of the pitch while Close and Byrne again put in commendable shifts. Mellanby however was unplayable – again – as he continuously teased the Birtley defence, having a hand in four goals and unluckily not adding his own name to the scoresheet.
Newton Aycliffe were presented with the second division championship trophy after this emphatic 5-1 rout of mid-table Birtley Town.
Having secured the title two weeks previous, league Chairman Mike Amos and chief sponsor Ann Barkas handed the silverware to Aycliffe skipper Sean Tarling and Dan Mellanby in front of over 300 people at Moore Lane Park.
The win stretched the Newtonians unbeaten league run to a huge 28 games with boss Allan Oliver challenging his side to finish the campaign in style and extend the run to 30.
Top scorer Warren Byrne bagged another brace taking his tally to 44 for the season while substitute Ben Wood matched his haul with two of his own. Elliot Gardner’s 20th of the term completed the victory with just Andrew McIntosh’s second half effort spoiling the day for the hosts.
Byrne’s first came after just four minutes. Mellanby cutely teed up Josh Knox who fired off the right-hand upright from the edge of the area with the rebound falling favourably at the feet of the former Shildon man who knocked the ball into the empty net with ‘keeper Dan Regan struggling to regain his position.
Gardner almost doubled the lead six minutes later but after superbly chesting down Stuart Owen’s right-wing centre, the 21-year-old saw his effort cleared off the line by the covering Jonathan Roseby.
Two minutes later the ex-Chester-le-Street forward did get his name on the scoresheet after he turned Shaun McAvoy inside-out before coolly slotting home from 12-yards, picking out the corner of Regan’s goal with ease.
Chase McMullen nearly added a third before half-time but found Regan a tough opponent as the Birtley stopper expertly saved the Aycliffe winger’s rasping half-volley at his near post, pushing the ball wide for a corner.
In the second period Oliver’s side got their third as Byrne fired home from the penalty spot after Andrew Grant-Soulsby felled the Aycliffe man after a fine three-man move involving Dan Mitton, Mellanby and Byrne himself had carved open the visitors defence.
Wood was introduced from the bench on 64 minutes and just three minutes later the former Sunderland Academy product stung the palms of Regan once more as the ‘keeper again parried wide for a corner.
Giant defender John Close was next to go near for the champions as his towering header from Mitton’s cross was cleared off the line by Grant-Soulsby but Aycliffe did get their fourth two minutes later when Wood netted his seventh of the season.
Mellanby and Gardner linked up well with the latter sending the 19-year-old clean through on goal to steer the ball past Regan despite his best efforts at sparing his team once more.
The visitors got a goal back with 16 minutes remaining when McIntosh rounded Close and beat Scott Pocklington in the home goal at the second attempt but Wood restored the four-goal cushion with a fine strike after Mellanby again sent him clear with an exquisite through-ball.
Mellanby almost capped his day off in the closing stages but his first effort was ruled out for offside while his 93rd minute thunderbolt following Fred Woodhouse’s pass came crashing back off the bar.
Star Man – Dan MELLANBY
On any other day Gardner would have stood out from the crowd after a fine afternoon in the middle of the pitch while Close and Byrne again put in commendable shifts. Mellanby however was unplayable – again – as he continuously teased the Birtley defence, having a hand in four goals and unluckily not adding his own name to the scoresheet.
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