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Sat 07 Aug 2010
North Shields
Newton Aycliffe FC
0
3
J Knox (0'), D Mellanby (0'), F Woodhouse (0')
Newton Aycliffe FC v North Shields
Stephen Cunliffe7 Aug 2010 - 15:59
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Match report
By Paul McGeary
In his midweek programme notes, Aycliffe boss Allan Oliver reiterated that a poor pre-season did not mean a poor league campaign would ensue and he also stated that his team were slowly coming to the fore and they were ready to hit the ground running come the opening day of the season.
How right he was - eventually - as his side tore North Shields apart with a blistering second half performance, this after seeing their star summer signing Warren Byrne dismissed after 37 minutes for what was seen in the eyes of many as trivial. The former Shildon striker shown a stright red for gesturing to a band of the home support as they goaded his every touch.
Play ebbed and flowed in the first period with Jonathon Hall going closest for The Robins - volleying wide from seven yards whilst Byrne and strike partner Elliot Gardner stung the palms of Shields' goalkeeper Michael Robinson with efforts from the edge of the area at the other end.
At half time and with his side a player down, Oliver decided to withdraw his wide men - Paul Broom and Stuart Owen - and focus on a more direct route to goal through the middle. Dan Mellanby came off the bench to support Gardner whilst Danny Robinson came in alongside the impressive Josh Knox and Sean Tarling to reinforce the midfield ranks.
Just 52-seconds after his introduction, Mellanby made his mark on the game. Having sent Gardner through on goal, the former Darlington striker manoeuvered himself into a position to receive the return pass and from the corner of the area, struck an unstoppable shot across goal and into Robinson's bottom right-hand corner.
Parity in numerical terms was restored after 66 minutes when Shields found themselves down to 10 men also. Paul Watson got caught for pace and had no other option but to cynically drag back Tarling when clean through on goal.
The introduction of another substitute, summer signing Fred Woodhouse gave Aycliffe a fresh impotus for the closing quarter of an hour and the pacey frontman tore the Shields back-line ragged in a captivating cameo.
After 84 minutes, Woodhouse out-muscled Ross Atkinson to win the ball and with Robinson in no-man's-land, the former Stockton Town youngster had the freedom of the pitch to round the Shields net-minder and run the ball into an empty net from fully 40 yards.
Then in the closing minutes, having received a pass from Knox on halfway, Woodhouse again outstripped his marker before unselfishly squaring the ball back across the box to Knox, who prodded home from 15-yards unmarked to seal the points.
Mellanby struck a post with the last kick off the game as Aycliffe showed little remorse despite their cushion.
STAR MAN - Sean Tarling - shaded the spoils ahead of Knox and Mellanby but Aycliffe's engine never stopped for 90 minutes and won every battle he entered.
In his midweek programme notes, Aycliffe boss Allan Oliver reiterated that a poor pre-season did not mean a poor league campaign would ensue and he also stated that his team were slowly coming to the fore and they were ready to hit the ground running come the opening day of the season.
How right he was - eventually - as his side tore North Shields apart with a blistering second half performance, this after seeing their star summer signing Warren Byrne dismissed after 37 minutes for what was seen in the eyes of many as trivial. The former Shildon striker shown a stright red for gesturing to a band of the home support as they goaded his every touch.
Play ebbed and flowed in the first period with Jonathon Hall going closest for The Robins - volleying wide from seven yards whilst Byrne and strike partner Elliot Gardner stung the palms of Shields' goalkeeper Michael Robinson with efforts from the edge of the area at the other end.
At half time and with his side a player down, Oliver decided to withdraw his wide men - Paul Broom and Stuart Owen - and focus on a more direct route to goal through the middle. Dan Mellanby came off the bench to support Gardner whilst Danny Robinson came in alongside the impressive Josh Knox and Sean Tarling to reinforce the midfield ranks.
Just 52-seconds after his introduction, Mellanby made his mark on the game. Having sent Gardner through on goal, the former Darlington striker manoeuvered himself into a position to receive the return pass and from the corner of the area, struck an unstoppable shot across goal and into Robinson's bottom right-hand corner.
Parity in numerical terms was restored after 66 minutes when Shields found themselves down to 10 men also. Paul Watson got caught for pace and had no other option but to cynically drag back Tarling when clean through on goal.
The introduction of another substitute, summer signing Fred Woodhouse gave Aycliffe a fresh impotus for the closing quarter of an hour and the pacey frontman tore the Shields back-line ragged in a captivating cameo.
After 84 minutes, Woodhouse out-muscled Ross Atkinson to win the ball and with Robinson in no-man's-land, the former Stockton Town youngster had the freedom of the pitch to round the Shields net-minder and run the ball into an empty net from fully 40 yards.
Then in the closing minutes, having received a pass from Knox on halfway, Woodhouse again outstripped his marker before unselfishly squaring the ball back across the box to Knox, who prodded home from 15-yards unmarked to seal the points.
Mellanby struck a post with the last kick off the game as Aycliffe showed little remorse despite their cushion.
STAR MAN - Sean Tarling - shaded the spoils ahead of Knox and Mellanby but Aycliffe's engine never stopped for 90 minutes and won every battle he entered.
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