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Sat 05 Feb 2011
Hebburn Town
Newton Aycliffe FC
1
5
J Close (0'), E Gardner (0'), W Byrne (0'), D Mellanby (0'), C Mickle (0')
Newton Aycliffe FC v Hebburn Town
Stephen Cunliffe5 Feb 2011 - 17:00
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Match report
By Paul McGeary
Newton Aycliffe edged one game closer to their promotion dream with an avalanche of second half goals to see off a determined Hebburn Town side, rejuvenated of late with five straight wins since the turn of the year.
On another day, Allan Oliver’s table-toppers would have doubled their tally, but at half-time it was a different story as his side struggled to contain a lively Hebburn side, boasting former Premiership stars Jamie McClen and Stuart Nicholson.
Oliver named an unchanged side from last week’s demolition of Washington as his side searched for their 20th league victory in what is turning out to be a gripping season, with no fewer than six sides still in the promotion frame.
Striker-come-midfielder Elliot Gardner had the first effort on goal after six minutes, but having been fed by Dan Mellanby, last year’s top marksman could only shoot tamely past Richard Oliver’s left-hand upright from 20-yards.
Gardner is currently enjoying a rich vein of form in his unaccustomed midfield role, and his five goals from six outings saw him recently awarded the club’s Player of the Month accolade for January.
The 13-goal hitman turned provider for the game’s opening goal as he sent Warren Byrne clear in the 24th minute. Byrne, this season’s current top scorer unselfishly squared across the six yard box to Paul Broom who saw his shot saved, but then spilled by Oliver with Mellanby on hand to clean up the scraps and fire home left-footed.
Oliver is highly rated in the Northern League and had previously put in some superb performances for Town since his New Year switch from first division strugglers Esh Winning, where he had caught the eye of Middlesbrough goalkeeping coach Stephen Pears who invited the 17-year-old to the Riverside ground for a trial before Christmas.
Two minutes later and a weakly hit back-pass from John Close almost allowed Hebburn the chance to equalise. Dean Nicholson capitalised and fired fiercely goalwards but Scott Pocklington was equal to the strike and superbly tipped over.
Aycliffe broke from the ensuing corner and when Gardner was expertly sent clear by Mellanby’s finely weighted ball, covering defender Paul Catto was guilty of tripping the 21-year-old and the penalty was duly awarded. Byrne, with six penalty goals to his name already this season lashed at the ball and saw it fly well over Oliver’s goal as his 23rd goal of the season eluded him.
This gave Hebburn hope and just before half time Paul Bennett’s side drew level through former West Brom striker Nicholson, a goal scorer for West Allotment in their 5-1 FA Vase victory against the Newtonians in September.
Found in space inside the area by right-winger Dean Walker, Nicholson’s cute first time finish lobbed superbly over Pocklington and under the crossbar for his 11th goal in Hebburn colours.
There was a consensus of doubt amongst the strong Aycliffe following at half-time as they realised their side was in a battle and the news of title rivals Guisborough and North Shields both comfortably winning did little to allay any fears.
Those fears were dispelled just nine minutes into the second half as Stuart Owen’s sweetly struck corner was delivered into just the right area and Gardner nodded his side back in front. Five minutes later and the chink in Hebburn’s armour became even more apparent as Close headed home Broom’s corner from the opposite side to give his side a two-goal cushion.
It was Close’s first goal of the season and his first since he nodded the opener in the 1-1 draw during last season’s encounter between the sides.
Oliver’s side were taking the game to a beleaguered Hebburn outfit and on 66 minutes their task was made easier with the awarding of a second penalty and the dismissal of Town skipper Jeff Forsyth. Forsyth seeing red for a second yellow after scything Broom down 10-yards from goal.
Byrne confidently stepped up after his first-half faux-pas and this time made no mistake from 12-yards as he sent Oliver the wrong way and claimed his 23rd goal in 24 league appearances.
The former Shildon star failed to add to his tally four minutes later as he uncharacteristically ballooned over from inside the six-yard box as Mellanby’s shot rebounded to his feet off the base of the post.
Mellanby forced Oliver into a fine stop a minute later as his first-time effort from Owen’s left-wing centre was tipped over and after 79 minutes Byrne got everything right bar the finish as he cleverly chipped the Hebburn custodian but saw his effort run harmlessly across goal.
Aycliffe’s fifth did arrive soon after as Craig Mickle - a 73rd minute change - rifled home left-footed following good work from fellow substitute Fred Woodhouse for his third goal of the campaign.
With Guisborough winning 5-1 at Seaham and North Shields hitting Chester-le-Street for four, this proved a valuable three-points for Oliver’s side who matched their rivals and maintained a healthy goal-difference advantage, as well as the eight-point gap over the Priorymen.
Star Man – Elliot GARDNER
Chris Beckett and Mark Peck marshalled the back-four superbly and never missed a header between them while skipper Sean Tarling put in yet another tireless display in the engine-room. Gardner however goes from strength-to-strength in his unfamiliar midfield role and added another goal to his total bringing him to 14 for the season, eight of which have come in his last nine outings.
Newton Aycliffe edged one game closer to their promotion dream with an avalanche of second half goals to see off a determined Hebburn Town side, rejuvenated of late with five straight wins since the turn of the year.
On another day, Allan Oliver’s table-toppers would have doubled their tally, but at half-time it was a different story as his side struggled to contain a lively Hebburn side, boasting former Premiership stars Jamie McClen and Stuart Nicholson.
Oliver named an unchanged side from last week’s demolition of Washington as his side searched for their 20th league victory in what is turning out to be a gripping season, with no fewer than six sides still in the promotion frame.
Striker-come-midfielder Elliot Gardner had the first effort on goal after six minutes, but having been fed by Dan Mellanby, last year’s top marksman could only shoot tamely past Richard Oliver’s left-hand upright from 20-yards.
Gardner is currently enjoying a rich vein of form in his unaccustomed midfield role, and his five goals from six outings saw him recently awarded the club’s Player of the Month accolade for January.
The 13-goal hitman turned provider for the game’s opening goal as he sent Warren Byrne clear in the 24th minute. Byrne, this season’s current top scorer unselfishly squared across the six yard box to Paul Broom who saw his shot saved, but then spilled by Oliver with Mellanby on hand to clean up the scraps and fire home left-footed.
Oliver is highly rated in the Northern League and had previously put in some superb performances for Town since his New Year switch from first division strugglers Esh Winning, where he had caught the eye of Middlesbrough goalkeeping coach Stephen Pears who invited the 17-year-old to the Riverside ground for a trial before Christmas.
Two minutes later and a weakly hit back-pass from John Close almost allowed Hebburn the chance to equalise. Dean Nicholson capitalised and fired fiercely goalwards but Scott Pocklington was equal to the strike and superbly tipped over.
Aycliffe broke from the ensuing corner and when Gardner was expertly sent clear by Mellanby’s finely weighted ball, covering defender Paul Catto was guilty of tripping the 21-year-old and the penalty was duly awarded. Byrne, with six penalty goals to his name already this season lashed at the ball and saw it fly well over Oliver’s goal as his 23rd goal of the season eluded him.
This gave Hebburn hope and just before half time Paul Bennett’s side drew level through former West Brom striker Nicholson, a goal scorer for West Allotment in their 5-1 FA Vase victory against the Newtonians in September.
Found in space inside the area by right-winger Dean Walker, Nicholson’s cute first time finish lobbed superbly over Pocklington and under the crossbar for his 11th goal in Hebburn colours.
There was a consensus of doubt amongst the strong Aycliffe following at half-time as they realised their side was in a battle and the news of title rivals Guisborough and North Shields both comfortably winning did little to allay any fears.
Those fears were dispelled just nine minutes into the second half as Stuart Owen’s sweetly struck corner was delivered into just the right area and Gardner nodded his side back in front. Five minutes later and the chink in Hebburn’s armour became even more apparent as Close headed home Broom’s corner from the opposite side to give his side a two-goal cushion.
It was Close’s first goal of the season and his first since he nodded the opener in the 1-1 draw during last season’s encounter between the sides.
Oliver’s side were taking the game to a beleaguered Hebburn outfit and on 66 minutes their task was made easier with the awarding of a second penalty and the dismissal of Town skipper Jeff Forsyth. Forsyth seeing red for a second yellow after scything Broom down 10-yards from goal.
Byrne confidently stepped up after his first-half faux-pas and this time made no mistake from 12-yards as he sent Oliver the wrong way and claimed his 23rd goal in 24 league appearances.
The former Shildon star failed to add to his tally four minutes later as he uncharacteristically ballooned over from inside the six-yard box as Mellanby’s shot rebounded to his feet off the base of the post.
Mellanby forced Oliver into a fine stop a minute later as his first-time effort from Owen’s left-wing centre was tipped over and after 79 minutes Byrne got everything right bar the finish as he cleverly chipped the Hebburn custodian but saw his effort run harmlessly across goal.
Aycliffe’s fifth did arrive soon after as Craig Mickle - a 73rd minute change - rifled home left-footed following good work from fellow substitute Fred Woodhouse for his third goal of the campaign.
With Guisborough winning 5-1 at Seaham and North Shields hitting Chester-le-Street for four, this proved a valuable three-points for Oliver’s side who matched their rivals and maintained a healthy goal-difference advantage, as well as the eight-point gap over the Priorymen.
Star Man – Elliot GARDNER
Chris Beckett and Mark Peck marshalled the back-four superbly and never missed a header between them while skipper Sean Tarling put in yet another tireless display in the engine-room. Gardner however goes from strength-to-strength in his unfamiliar midfield role and added another goal to his total bringing him to 14 for the season, eight of which have come in his last nine outings.
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