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Sat 20 Nov 2010
Chester-Le-Street
Newton Aycliffe FC
2
3
B Wood (0'), W Byrne (0'), D Mellanby (0')
Newton Aycliffe FC v Chester-Le-Street
Stephen Cunliffe20 Nov 2010 - 17:00
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Match report
By Paul McGeary
Back in the August sun, Newton Aycliffe succumbed to back-to-back last minute goals as Guisborough Town snatched four points on consecutive Saturdays in their top-of-the-table clashes with the Newtonians.
Today, on a mud-bath of a field, Aycliffe turned the tables on the Priorymen by stealing victory in the 92nd minute against a Chester-le-Street side who may well feel aggrieved at defeat, having twice clawed themselves level on a harsh wintery afternoon.
To rub salt in the wounds, news filtered through that Marske United had stolen victory in their derby day meeting with the Priorymen, courtesy of Derek Bradley's 95th minute winner at the GER Stadium.
Allan Oliver's side now lead the pack by four points, although Guisborough do have a game in hand, which may well be played next Saturday as Aycliffe's trip to Gillford Park looks in real doubt as the Cumbrians struggle to gain access to their home ground due to a wrangle with their landlords over the lease.
Prior to the game, boss Oliver - who saw his side destroy first division Whitley Bay just four days previous - admitted that he may well be happy with a point from the Cestrians after seeing his defence decimated through injury in the run-up to the game.
John Close was ruled out with a mouth injury, while Brian Fairhurst arrived on crutches following his nasty injury at Hillheads. The right-back thinks he'll be on the sidelines for up to three months. Dan Mitton wasn't fit enough for a return whilst Chris Beckett missed out through personal commitments.
Winger Paul Broom was converted to a make-shift right-back and Sean Davies was recalled to the back four as Aycliffe patched up as best they could in order to deal with the potent threat of Liam McBryde, Mark Davison and Robbie Draper.
Broom's replacement on the right flank was Ben Wood, playing his third game following his exit from Sunderland in the summer. He grabbed his first goal for his new side in the fourth minute when his free-kick from 25-yards found its way through a crumbling home wall and into Kyle Barlow's bottom right-hand corner.
Wood two minutes earlier had stretched the 'keeper with an angled drive from the edge of the area as Aycliffe stretched their opponents in the opening exchange on a pitch already cutting up under the pressure of constant rainfall, which had placed the game in some doubt as kick-off encroached.
Chester were level just five minutes after Wood's strike, when their right-wing corner wasn't dealt with inside the box and top-scorer McBryde rifled the loose ball through the bodies on the line from the six-yard line.
Chester enjoyed much of the play thereafter and twice had chances either side of the 25 minute mark. First McBryde sent Draper into the box but the skipper's shot was palmed for a corner by Scott Pocklington at his near post then just minutes later Craig Marron, combative as ever, sent McBryde free down the left and his cross was headed wide by Davison, unmarked at the back-post just yards from goal.
Anth Campbell almost scored a goal of the season contender in the 27th minute when he smashed a 35-yard shot off Barlow's crossbar following some good work on the touchline from ex-Cestrian Elliot Gardner - returning to Moor Park for the first time since his move to Aycliffe almost two-years ago.
The first moment of contention came just 60-seconds later when Aycliffe's top scorer Warren Byrne was felled on the edge of the area by Kyle Bird, although many in the ground - admittedly mostly from Aycliffe - thought the full-back had got enough on the ball to divert it for a corner.
Referee Ian Lawther pointed to the spot and Byrne duly sent Barlow the wrong way for his 17th goal of the season, all in the league.
Lawther came under scrutiny moments later at the other end of the ground when Pocklington failed to deal with a high punt into his area. Dropping the ball under pressure, the former Darlington custodian appeared to hold McBryde as he rounded him, resulting in a weakly hit shot which Mark Peck was able to clear off the goal-line.
Byrne should have doubled his afternoon's tally four minutes before half time when Sean Tarling found him in the left-hand channel of Barlow's box. Checking back onto his right-foot opened up the space for the former Shildon hitman, but his shot was high and wide as his characteristic finishing let him down on this rare instance.
Aycliffe opened up the better in the second period and Josh Knox hit a rasping drive narrowly over the bar followed by Tarling's snap-shot which went wide of Barlow's right-hand upright as Aycliffe looked for the cushioning third goal.
As darkness drew and the pitch got stickier, Chester upped the pressure in search of an equalising goal which almost came from the head of Davison on 67 minutes. McBryde's right-wing centre found the former RCA and Ryton man six-yards out but his point-blank bullet was superbly tipped over by Pocklington.
Five minutes later though and Chester's stranglehold paid dividends as they nabbed the equaliser they probably deserved. Bird's left-wing free-kick was flicked on in the area by Nick Kane and although Pocklington did well to claw it from his top corner, he could only watch as Neil Moan volleyed the loose ball into the roof of his net.
Oliver introduced Dan Mellanby and Fred Woodhouse for the last quarter-of-an-hour whilst Stuart Sherwood threw on the experienced Tony Healer and went 4-3-3 for the latter stages as both men sensed a victory on the quagmire of a playing field.
Tarling twice sent Gardner free in identical areas as the 90 minute mark approached, but both times the 21-year-old striker could only hit his shot at Barlow under pressure as he struggled to get control of the ball as it seemingly glued itself to the mudbath.
In the 92nd minute Healer was booked for leaving his foot in as Anth Campbell broke play up midway through Aycliffe's half and from the resultant free-kick, Aycliffe grabbed the winner. Pocklington's long, searching ball found Gardner's head, falling at the feet of the live-wire Woodhouse. The former Stockton Town man jinked his way into the Chester box and with the defenders afraid to make a tackle in horrid conditions, Woodhouse was able to look up and spot Mellanby unmarked six-yards out.
The former Darlington striker took one touch to get the ball under his spell before smashing home into the bottom corner to send the visiting bench and travelling support into raptures.
There was no time for the beleaguered Cestrians to launch one final attack as the referee blew up for full time shortly after the restart, and with Chester seemingly peeved at certain decisions over the course of the afternoon, several members of their hierarchy vented their frustrations at the whistler as the teams trudged off to the warmth of the showers.
Star Man - Sean DAVIES
Quiet man of the squad enjoyed his finest performance as he was recalled to the back four in an unfamiliar central role. Skipper Tarling and last season's top scorer Gardner enjoyed graceful afternoons on a not-so-graceful surface whilst Mark Peck was a colossus once more alongside Davies in the heart of the defence. The former RCA man shaded the spoils though with several goal-saving blocks and umpteen headers won as Aycliffe won their ninth straight league game.
Back in the August sun, Newton Aycliffe succumbed to back-to-back last minute goals as Guisborough Town snatched four points on consecutive Saturdays in their top-of-the-table clashes with the Newtonians.
Today, on a mud-bath of a field, Aycliffe turned the tables on the Priorymen by stealing victory in the 92nd minute against a Chester-le-Street side who may well feel aggrieved at defeat, having twice clawed themselves level on a harsh wintery afternoon.
To rub salt in the wounds, news filtered through that Marske United had stolen victory in their derby day meeting with the Priorymen, courtesy of Derek Bradley's 95th minute winner at the GER Stadium.
Allan Oliver's side now lead the pack by four points, although Guisborough do have a game in hand, which may well be played next Saturday as Aycliffe's trip to Gillford Park looks in real doubt as the Cumbrians struggle to gain access to their home ground due to a wrangle with their landlords over the lease.
Prior to the game, boss Oliver - who saw his side destroy first division Whitley Bay just four days previous - admitted that he may well be happy with a point from the Cestrians after seeing his defence decimated through injury in the run-up to the game.
John Close was ruled out with a mouth injury, while Brian Fairhurst arrived on crutches following his nasty injury at Hillheads. The right-back thinks he'll be on the sidelines for up to three months. Dan Mitton wasn't fit enough for a return whilst Chris Beckett missed out through personal commitments.
Winger Paul Broom was converted to a make-shift right-back and Sean Davies was recalled to the back four as Aycliffe patched up as best they could in order to deal with the potent threat of Liam McBryde, Mark Davison and Robbie Draper.
Broom's replacement on the right flank was Ben Wood, playing his third game following his exit from Sunderland in the summer. He grabbed his first goal for his new side in the fourth minute when his free-kick from 25-yards found its way through a crumbling home wall and into Kyle Barlow's bottom right-hand corner.
Wood two minutes earlier had stretched the 'keeper with an angled drive from the edge of the area as Aycliffe stretched their opponents in the opening exchange on a pitch already cutting up under the pressure of constant rainfall, which had placed the game in some doubt as kick-off encroached.
Chester were level just five minutes after Wood's strike, when their right-wing corner wasn't dealt with inside the box and top-scorer McBryde rifled the loose ball through the bodies on the line from the six-yard line.
Chester enjoyed much of the play thereafter and twice had chances either side of the 25 minute mark. First McBryde sent Draper into the box but the skipper's shot was palmed for a corner by Scott Pocklington at his near post then just minutes later Craig Marron, combative as ever, sent McBryde free down the left and his cross was headed wide by Davison, unmarked at the back-post just yards from goal.
Anth Campbell almost scored a goal of the season contender in the 27th minute when he smashed a 35-yard shot off Barlow's crossbar following some good work on the touchline from ex-Cestrian Elliot Gardner - returning to Moor Park for the first time since his move to Aycliffe almost two-years ago.
The first moment of contention came just 60-seconds later when Aycliffe's top scorer Warren Byrne was felled on the edge of the area by Kyle Bird, although many in the ground - admittedly mostly from Aycliffe - thought the full-back had got enough on the ball to divert it for a corner.
Referee Ian Lawther pointed to the spot and Byrne duly sent Barlow the wrong way for his 17th goal of the season, all in the league.
Lawther came under scrutiny moments later at the other end of the ground when Pocklington failed to deal with a high punt into his area. Dropping the ball under pressure, the former Darlington custodian appeared to hold McBryde as he rounded him, resulting in a weakly hit shot which Mark Peck was able to clear off the goal-line.
Byrne should have doubled his afternoon's tally four minutes before half time when Sean Tarling found him in the left-hand channel of Barlow's box. Checking back onto his right-foot opened up the space for the former Shildon hitman, but his shot was high and wide as his characteristic finishing let him down on this rare instance.
Aycliffe opened up the better in the second period and Josh Knox hit a rasping drive narrowly over the bar followed by Tarling's snap-shot which went wide of Barlow's right-hand upright as Aycliffe looked for the cushioning third goal.
As darkness drew and the pitch got stickier, Chester upped the pressure in search of an equalising goal which almost came from the head of Davison on 67 minutes. McBryde's right-wing centre found the former RCA and Ryton man six-yards out but his point-blank bullet was superbly tipped over by Pocklington.
Five minutes later though and Chester's stranglehold paid dividends as they nabbed the equaliser they probably deserved. Bird's left-wing free-kick was flicked on in the area by Nick Kane and although Pocklington did well to claw it from his top corner, he could only watch as Neil Moan volleyed the loose ball into the roof of his net.
Oliver introduced Dan Mellanby and Fred Woodhouse for the last quarter-of-an-hour whilst Stuart Sherwood threw on the experienced Tony Healer and went 4-3-3 for the latter stages as both men sensed a victory on the quagmire of a playing field.
Tarling twice sent Gardner free in identical areas as the 90 minute mark approached, but both times the 21-year-old striker could only hit his shot at Barlow under pressure as he struggled to get control of the ball as it seemingly glued itself to the mudbath.
In the 92nd minute Healer was booked for leaving his foot in as Anth Campbell broke play up midway through Aycliffe's half and from the resultant free-kick, Aycliffe grabbed the winner. Pocklington's long, searching ball found Gardner's head, falling at the feet of the live-wire Woodhouse. The former Stockton Town man jinked his way into the Chester box and with the defenders afraid to make a tackle in horrid conditions, Woodhouse was able to look up and spot Mellanby unmarked six-yards out.
The former Darlington striker took one touch to get the ball under his spell before smashing home into the bottom corner to send the visiting bench and travelling support into raptures.
There was no time for the beleaguered Cestrians to launch one final attack as the referee blew up for full time shortly after the restart, and with Chester seemingly peeved at certain decisions over the course of the afternoon, several members of their hierarchy vented their frustrations at the whistler as the teams trudged off to the warmth of the showers.
Star Man - Sean DAVIES
Quiet man of the squad enjoyed his finest performance as he was recalled to the back four in an unfamiliar central role. Skipper Tarling and last season's top scorer Gardner enjoyed graceful afternoons on a not-so-graceful surface whilst Mark Peck was a colossus once more alongside Davies in the heart of the defence. The former RCA man shaded the spoils though with several goal-saving blocks and umpteen headers won as Aycliffe won their ninth straight league game.
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