By Paul McGeary
Newton Aycliffe took another huge stride towards the division two title with a hard-fought win over Northallerton Town.
Scott PocklingtonÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s penalty save just before half-time proved instrumental in the victory, preserving the 22nd minute lead given to Allan OliverÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s side by the returning Elliot Gardner.
With teenage midfielder Josh Knox wrapping the points up with a 90th minute second, OliverÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s side stretched their advantage at the top to 10 points, with nearest challengers Guisborough slipping up at home to Birtley Town.
Gardner returned to the side after three games on the sidelines with an injured ankle while Anth Campbell dropped to the bench. Oliver used Paul Broom and Stuart Owen as wing-backs, packing his midfield with last seasonÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s 3-0 reverse on the same ground in mind.
That night, Town skipper Martin Butterworth inspired his side to a resounding victory with a virtuoso display in the middle of the park.
Dan Mellanby missed out altogether with a recurrence of his long-standing back complaint but there was room on the bench once more for Dion Raitt as he continued his rehabilitation after six-months out.
The hosts asked the first question in the game after five minutes when Pocklington had to save smartly from Gary Mitchell. TownÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s number nine outstripped John Close to a speculative long ball and having turned inside onto his left foot, he fired straight down the throat of the former Darlington junior from 18-yards.
30-seconds later Newtonian skipper Sean Tarling fired tamely at Alex KellÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s goal from fully 25-yards before Close headed straight at the Town stopper from the six-yard line following OwenÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s teasing right-wing free-kick.
OliverÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s side took a deserved lead on 22 minutes as Gardner fired his 15th goal of the campaign. OwenÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s right-wing corner was flapped at by Kell in the home goal and with the loose ball dropping inside the six-yard area, GardnerÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s predatory instinct saw him first to react as he turned the ball home left footed.
Mark FanningÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s men had a chance to level when ref Michael Bradley awarded them a dubious penalty two minutes before the interval. Grant HickmanÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s ball into the area was controlled by Darren Mowbray Ã¢â‚¬â€œ younger brother of BoroÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ boss Tony Ã¢â‚¬â€œ only for the star striker to fall unconvincingly under CloseÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s shackling.
Justice was served up by Pocklington though as the giant Ã¢â‚¬Ëœkeeper opted correctly and saved MowbrayÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s spot-kick, low to his right, to rapturous cheer from another strong travelling band of Newtonians in the stands.
On an ever increasing heavy playing surface, Northallerton came into the game more in the second period, with Close, Mark Peck and Chris Beckett standing strong in the back-three. Pocklington grew in stature in the visiting goal, equal to everything thrown at him from the wide areas as Nick Lyons and substitute Aaron Ramsbottom continually got joy down the flanks.
Yet it was the league leaders who almost doubled their advantage when Broom found himself handily placed from Craig MickleÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s clever quick free-kick. The former Coxhoe winger fired just wide of KellÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s upright with his 15-yard effort however.
Raitt and Fred Woodhouse were introduced from the bench with 15 minutes remaining as Gardner limped off injured after suffering another bang on his troubled ankle. Woodhouse, 19, almost grabbed a second within a minute of his introduction as he weaved his way into the area only to find Kell equal to his left-footed effort, saving at his near post with his shins.
As tension grew in the closing minutes, Close had to clear off the line when MowbrayÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s scrambled effort almost breached the Aycliffe net whilst RamsbottomÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s fierce driven cross from the left evaded everyone in the area to run harmlessly wide much to FanningÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s frustration.
But it was Aycliffe who grabbed the decisive second with just 30-seconds of normal time remaining on BradleyÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s watch. Beckett ran almost the length of the pitch avoiding copious challenges only to be felled on the edge of the area by a cynical Butterworth foul.
With Kell and his wall expecting Raitt to fire goalwards, the experienced campaigner coolly angled the ball to his right into the path of Knox who took one touch before calmly slotting the ball into the bottom corner from eight-yards to cap the display.
Just as last week when they denied North Shields three points, Birtley Town assisted OliverÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s men by holding Guisborough at the King George, meaning Aycliffe have even more breathing space over their opponents as we approach the run-in.
It remains to be seen with fixture congestion in the chasing pack, but sooner, rather than later will Aycliffe ice their cake with promotion and hopefully the division two title and after a 21st game unbeaten, few can argue that they fully deserve their acclaim after what is turning out to be a memorable season.
Star Man Ã¢â‚¬â€œ Christopher BECKETT
Scott Pocklington was in superb form as he kept his 12th clean sheet of the season whilst Craig Mickle worked tirelessly up front in the absence of impact man Mellanby. But for a professional display at the back in which he headed and tackled everything Ã¢â‚¬â€œ and not forgetting his 89th minute mazy dribble into opposition territory which brought about the second goal Ã¢â‚¬â€œ 29-year-old Beckett can tonight enjoy his Man of the Match award.

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