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Sat 08 Jan 2011
Newton Aycliffe FCNorth Shields
D Mellanby (0')
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Newton Aycliffe FC v North Shields
Stephen Cunliffe8 Jan 2011 - 17:00
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Match report
By Paul McGeary
Newton Aycliffe produced a battling second-half performance to maintain their unbeaten run in league games, but they had to surrender their 10-game winning stretch in division two to a gritty North Shields outfit, lying just behind them in the form guide.
Not since Hebburn Town back in late September has a fellow Northern League side been able to take league points off Allan Oliver's Newtonians.
Missing Josh Knox with a broken toe, Oliver asked last season's top scorer Elliot Gardner to operate in an unfamiliar central midfield role with 31-year-old Dan Mellanby restored to the attack, after his virtuoso substitute appearance against Morpeth just days earlier.
Shields came with a plan to sting Aycliffe's free-flowing passing game by packing their defence with numbers, leaving chances on Michael Robinson's goal at a premium.
Yet given their opportunity to attack, and Anth Woodhouse's Robins every bit resembled a promotion chasing team as they stunned Oliver's men with a slick passing game of their own, with Michael Rasmussen and veteran skipper Keith Douglas in scintillating form.
Douglas had the first effort on goal after 24 minutes, striking goalward from 20-yards with a shot which goalkeeper Scott Pocklington failed to hold. Dan Mitton was on hand to clear the danger as the ball spilled from Pocklington's grasp.
Two minutes later and the giant former Darlington 'keeper made a better fist of Paul Watson's 25-yard effort, saving well low down to his right.
Shields powered on looking for the opener and it almost came from the unlikeliest of sources on 38 minutes. Daniel Patterson picked the ball up in the left-back area and marauded forward unchallenged deep into home territory. After cutting back onto his favoured left foot, the defender fired low to Pocklington's right with Aycliffe's custodian doing well to gather at the second attempt.
Four minutes later and Shields got their reward. Rasmussen's right-wing cross was punched away by Pocklington but only as far as Patterson who fired back across goal from the outside left position. Mitton covering on the six-yard line tried to clear the shot-cross but the returning right-back could only watch in horror as his sliced effort inadvertently went in off the back post.
The second period brought a vast improvement from the hosts as they sought to preserve their unbeaten run and their healthy gap at the top of the table.
Top scorer Warren Byrne headed Gardner's 54th minute free-kick against the bar in what was a rare opportunity for the former Shildon hit-man, starved of any real supply on a frustrating afternoon.
On the hour Oliver introduced Ben Wood and Anth Campbell from the bench in an effort to penetrate the clustered back-line which had marshalled the Shields goal well all afternoon, as the visitors tried to become the first side to stop Aycliffe from netting at home all season.
This wasn't to prevail however as the table-toppers grabbed a deserved equaliser with 66 minutes on the watch. Paul Broom went flying down the right and cut the ball back to Mellanby who was well shepherded by Steven Robinson on the edge of the Robins' box.
Mellanby killed the ball and in vintage fashion turned his marker to open up the shooting opportunity. Firing low to Robinson's left, the ex-Darlington forward sneaked his shot inside the post with immense precision to record his fifth goal of the season, his third in as many games.
Aycliffe finished the game the stronger and after Mellanby prodded a half-chance wide of Robinson's upright, Ben Wood almost grabbed a winner as he stole in on the Shields goal only to find the impressive stopper in fine form once more as he smothered the former Sunderland man's left-footed effort.
From the resultant corner, Mark Peck had a superbly executed left-foot volley finely saved by Robinson who was showing the 173 strong crowd exactly why he is highly rated in Northern League circles.
The game petered out in the dying minutes with both sides content in sharing the points which come the end of the season could prove well-earned for either side, as they begin to step up their respective promotion pushes.
Star Man - Elliot GARDNER
Mellanby enjoyed a fine second half, capped by his superb goal while Peck once more impressed the watching crowd. For his work-rate in an unfamiliar role however, Gardner steals the acclaim with a workmanlike performance which earned commendation afterwards from skipper and midfield partner, Sean Tarling.
Newton Aycliffe produced a battling second-half performance to maintain their unbeaten run in league games, but they had to surrender their 10-game winning stretch in division two to a gritty North Shields outfit, lying just behind them in the form guide.
Not since Hebburn Town back in late September has a fellow Northern League side been able to take league points off Allan Oliver's Newtonians.
Missing Josh Knox with a broken toe, Oliver asked last season's top scorer Elliot Gardner to operate in an unfamiliar central midfield role with 31-year-old Dan Mellanby restored to the attack, after his virtuoso substitute appearance against Morpeth just days earlier.
Shields came with a plan to sting Aycliffe's free-flowing passing game by packing their defence with numbers, leaving chances on Michael Robinson's goal at a premium.
Yet given their opportunity to attack, and Anth Woodhouse's Robins every bit resembled a promotion chasing team as they stunned Oliver's men with a slick passing game of their own, with Michael Rasmussen and veteran skipper Keith Douglas in scintillating form.
Douglas had the first effort on goal after 24 minutes, striking goalward from 20-yards with a shot which goalkeeper Scott Pocklington failed to hold. Dan Mitton was on hand to clear the danger as the ball spilled from Pocklington's grasp.
Two minutes later and the giant former Darlington 'keeper made a better fist of Paul Watson's 25-yard effort, saving well low down to his right.
Shields powered on looking for the opener and it almost came from the unlikeliest of sources on 38 minutes. Daniel Patterson picked the ball up in the left-back area and marauded forward unchallenged deep into home territory. After cutting back onto his favoured left foot, the defender fired low to Pocklington's right with Aycliffe's custodian doing well to gather at the second attempt.
Four minutes later and Shields got their reward. Rasmussen's right-wing cross was punched away by Pocklington but only as far as Patterson who fired back across goal from the outside left position. Mitton covering on the six-yard line tried to clear the shot-cross but the returning right-back could only watch in horror as his sliced effort inadvertently went in off the back post.
The second period brought a vast improvement from the hosts as they sought to preserve their unbeaten run and their healthy gap at the top of the table.
Top scorer Warren Byrne headed Gardner's 54th minute free-kick against the bar in what was a rare opportunity for the former Shildon hit-man, starved of any real supply on a frustrating afternoon.
On the hour Oliver introduced Ben Wood and Anth Campbell from the bench in an effort to penetrate the clustered back-line which had marshalled the Shields goal well all afternoon, as the visitors tried to become the first side to stop Aycliffe from netting at home all season.
This wasn't to prevail however as the table-toppers grabbed a deserved equaliser with 66 minutes on the watch. Paul Broom went flying down the right and cut the ball back to Mellanby who was well shepherded by Steven Robinson on the edge of the Robins' box.
Mellanby killed the ball and in vintage fashion turned his marker to open up the shooting opportunity. Firing low to Robinson's left, the ex-Darlington forward sneaked his shot inside the post with immense precision to record his fifth goal of the season, his third in as many games.
Aycliffe finished the game the stronger and after Mellanby prodded a half-chance wide of Robinson's upright, Ben Wood almost grabbed a winner as he stole in on the Shields goal only to find the impressive stopper in fine form once more as he smothered the former Sunderland man's left-footed effort.
From the resultant corner, Mark Peck had a superbly executed left-foot volley finely saved by Robinson who was showing the 173 strong crowd exactly why he is highly rated in Northern League circles.
The game petered out in the dying minutes with both sides content in sharing the points which come the end of the season could prove well-earned for either side, as they begin to step up their respective promotion pushes.
Star Man - Elliot GARDNER
Mellanby enjoyed a fine second half, capped by his superb goal while Peck once more impressed the watching crowd. For his work-rate in an unfamiliar role however, Gardner steals the acclaim with a workmanlike performance which earned commendation afterwards from skipper and midfield partner, Sean Tarling.
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