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Sat 11 Sep 2010
Washington
Newton Aycliffe FC
3
0
Newton Aycliffe FC v Washington
Stephen Cunliffe11 Sep 2010 - 15:00
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Match report
By Paul McGeary
Newton Aycliffe whimpered to a disastrous defeat against a Washington side that finished third from bottom in last year's campaign.
However, after todays 3-0 victory, The Mechanics find themselves in third position, just a single point behind the side they despatched without argument at a blustery Nissan Sports Complex.
To rub salt in boss Allan Oliver's wound, despite hanging on to their second berth in the table, his side are now six points adrift of pace-setters Guisborough Town, who defeated bottom side Brandon United.
Aycliffe lacked a leader in the pack, and no-one stood up to the mantle of filling Sean Tarling's boots - the midfielder absent due to a prior engagement. Warren Byrne was again a frustrated figure up front, starved of service whilst Christopher Moore debuted in goal, having signed from Willington in midweek to cover for the suspended Scott Pocklington.
The Newtonians should have taken the lead just before the quarter hour mark. Byrne fed Stuart Owen in the inside left channel and the winger's low, angled shot-come-cross fell at the feet of Jonathan Pennock six yards out, but his tame effort went straight into the gloves of Dan Molyneux in the host's goal.
Aycliffe failed to get any quality on the ball, relying largely on punts upfield and scattered forays down either flank with little success and they nearly fell behind after 37 minutes when Stephen Burns forced Moore into an acrobatic stop, the ex-Consett 'keeper tipping the ball over as it searched out his top right-hand corner.
Moore was again called into action on 43 minutes as Nick Martin - Washington's top scorer - swivelled in the box to unleash a half-volley from Glen Reay's right-wing cross, but the 25-year old stopper saved well, low to his left.
The opening goal did come as half-time approached and Moore this time did not have a prayer as Will Caris' 35-yard rocket roared past him and into his bottom right-hand corner. Caris, set-up by Dean Fox, won't strike a ball better all season.
With the wind behind them in the second period, Aycliffe played marginally better and kept the ball moving for spells, but again, lacked guile in the final third and ultimately paid for not taking a stranglehold on the game. Michael Heckley almost volleyed the visitors level on 63 minutes following Chase McMullen's corner, but Jamie Dawson was well placed on the home goal-line to clear.
The sucker-punch arrived just 10 minutes later in the form of substitute Jon Sherlock. Having just entered the field, the former Birtley man hit a timid 25-yard effort which scrambled under the body of the diving Moore, to tarnish the six-footer's debut performance.
With man-of-the-match Mark Peck leaving the field with what looked a bad shoulder injury, Aycliffe went to a back-three and conceded once more as they chased the game. Martin was sent through and elegantly lifted the ball over the outcoming Moore and into the far corner with just 13 minutes remaining, although Reay tried his hardest under pressure from Dan Mitton to pinch the acclaim as the ball crossed the line.
Byrne tried desperately to add to his season tally of six goals as he unleashed a curling left-footed effort in the dying seconds, but Molyneux saved well from the 30-yard effort, which was heading for the top corner.
Aycliffe still search for their 100th goal in all competitions since their Northern League inception just 13 months ago, but on today's evidence, their loyal band of followers may have to wait a while longer for the milestone to arrive.
Star Man
Mark Peck - the 20-year old defender makes the game look simple, and carries the ball out of defence like an attacking midfield player. Headed well, tackled well and is fastly growing in confidence as an Aycliffe figure. Unlucky to suffer injury which may keep him sidelined and with John Close and Paul Stout also on the treatment table, boss Oliver may well be reaching for the gin tonight, not the red wine.
Newton Aycliffe whimpered to a disastrous defeat against a Washington side that finished third from bottom in last year's campaign.
However, after todays 3-0 victory, The Mechanics find themselves in third position, just a single point behind the side they despatched without argument at a blustery Nissan Sports Complex.
To rub salt in boss Allan Oliver's wound, despite hanging on to their second berth in the table, his side are now six points adrift of pace-setters Guisborough Town, who defeated bottom side Brandon United.
Aycliffe lacked a leader in the pack, and no-one stood up to the mantle of filling Sean Tarling's boots - the midfielder absent due to a prior engagement. Warren Byrne was again a frustrated figure up front, starved of service whilst Christopher Moore debuted in goal, having signed from Willington in midweek to cover for the suspended Scott Pocklington.
The Newtonians should have taken the lead just before the quarter hour mark. Byrne fed Stuart Owen in the inside left channel and the winger's low, angled shot-come-cross fell at the feet of Jonathan Pennock six yards out, but his tame effort went straight into the gloves of Dan Molyneux in the host's goal.
Aycliffe failed to get any quality on the ball, relying largely on punts upfield and scattered forays down either flank with little success and they nearly fell behind after 37 minutes when Stephen Burns forced Moore into an acrobatic stop, the ex-Consett 'keeper tipping the ball over as it searched out his top right-hand corner.
Moore was again called into action on 43 minutes as Nick Martin - Washington's top scorer - swivelled in the box to unleash a half-volley from Glen Reay's right-wing cross, but the 25-year old stopper saved well, low to his left.
The opening goal did come as half-time approached and Moore this time did not have a prayer as Will Caris' 35-yard rocket roared past him and into his bottom right-hand corner. Caris, set-up by Dean Fox, won't strike a ball better all season.
With the wind behind them in the second period, Aycliffe played marginally better and kept the ball moving for spells, but again, lacked guile in the final third and ultimately paid for not taking a stranglehold on the game. Michael Heckley almost volleyed the visitors level on 63 minutes following Chase McMullen's corner, but Jamie Dawson was well placed on the home goal-line to clear.
The sucker-punch arrived just 10 minutes later in the form of substitute Jon Sherlock. Having just entered the field, the former Birtley man hit a timid 25-yard effort which scrambled under the body of the diving Moore, to tarnish the six-footer's debut performance.
With man-of-the-match Mark Peck leaving the field with what looked a bad shoulder injury, Aycliffe went to a back-three and conceded once more as they chased the game. Martin was sent through and elegantly lifted the ball over the outcoming Moore and into the far corner with just 13 minutes remaining, although Reay tried his hardest under pressure from Dan Mitton to pinch the acclaim as the ball crossed the line.
Byrne tried desperately to add to his season tally of six goals as he unleashed a curling left-footed effort in the dying seconds, but Molyneux saved well from the 30-yard effort, which was heading for the top corner.
Aycliffe still search for their 100th goal in all competitions since their Northern League inception just 13 months ago, but on today's evidence, their loyal band of followers may have to wait a while longer for the milestone to arrive.
Star Man
Mark Peck - the 20-year old defender makes the game look simple, and carries the ball out of defence like an attacking midfield player. Headed well, tackled well and is fastly growing in confidence as an Aycliffe figure. Unlucky to suffer injury which may keep him sidelined and with John Close and Paul Stout also on the treatment table, boss Oliver may well be reaching for the gin tonight, not the red wine.
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