Newton Aycliffe FC v Morpeth Town

By Paul McGeary
Allan Oliver's side returned to league action at Craik Park and against a dogged Morpeth - sitting bottom of the league - they returned to winning ways, but only just.
After Saturday's heavy reverse in their Vase game with West Allotment, the Newtonians had a point to prove, but with the calculators out prior to the game, maybe the travelling fans should have just settled for the three points first, and not the five goals required to overcome Guisborough Town at the summit of the table.
On another night, maybe the scoreline would have looked more comfortable against a team yet to register a league point this term, but credit to the Northumberland side, who gave as good as they got, with some pacey counter attacks which had the Aycliffe back-line reeling at times.
The visitors' leading marksman, Warren Byrne had the first showing on goal in just the eighth minute, but the former Shildon striker could only tamely head wide when well placed and unmarked following Chase McMullen's right-wing centre.
Morpeth's star man, ex-Leicester City target man Trevor Benjamin lasted just 10 minutes before a hamstring injury brought an end to his evening. Just four minutes prior, the striker who once sanctioned a £1.3m transfer fee was the victim of a late Mark Peck challenge, on an evening when several tackles tested the resolve of the referee, following some heavy overnight rain in the north-east.
After 29 minutes, it was Byrne again at the centre of involvement, fashioning his own half chance before stinging the palms of Craig Pickering at the stopper's near post.
Two minutes later and Byrne eventually did get his goal, picking himself up from Matthew Wade's clumsy tackle inside the area to send Pickering the wrong way with the resultant penalty kick.
Morpeth went carte blanche just 12 minutes later and grabbed a spot-kick of their own, but Aycliffe can thank themselves lucky that big defender John Close - by this time struggling with a dead leg - was not red-carded for his part in the referee's decision. Struggling to maintain pace with Wade at the other end, Close slipped at the pivotal moment bringing the striker crashing to the ground, although many saw the tackle to be made outside the area. Regardless, Close stayed on and 'skipper Craig Appleby thundered the spot-kick straight down the middle of the goal to equalise.
Michael Heckley replaced Close at the interval, and both he and Peck impressed in the second period, equal to everything thrown at them by a Morpeth side which on reflection, won't be at the basement-end of the table for too much longer.
Byrne got his, and Aycliffe's second just before the hour mark. A poor back-pass by David Hooper was seized upon by the visitor's top scorer, and in turning inside onto his left-foot, Byrne stroked the ball low past Pickering into the bottom left-hand corner from just inside the area.
The game petered out as Morpeth threw the kitchen sink at Aycliffe who defended resolutely, ably supported by the ever-impressive Sean Tarling and Josh Knox digging out just in front of the back-four. Tarling first, and then substitute Paul Broom, stretched the home defence with late forays into Morpeth turf on the counter as Aycliffe sought a killer strike.
It almost came in stoppage time, as Byrne again switched the ball onto his left foot on the edge of the area, but Pickering was equal to his rasping drive, pushing the ball wide of his right-hand upright.
Star Man
McMullen was once more faultless, as was Peck, as the big defender grows in confidence in new surroundings. Byrne goes close to the spoils with his two well taken strikes, bringing his tally to six for the season, but Tarling gets our glowing appraisal with what was once more a near-perfect midfield performance, spoilt only by a yellow card - which was given in err following a ball-winning tackle.