Newton Aycliffe FC v Seaham Red Star

By Paul McGeary
Newton Aycliffe clinched promotion to the first division after a second-half goal rush inspired by Dan Mellanby gave them a 6-1 victory over Seaham Red Star.
Allan Oliver’s side can next week clinch the division two title should they defeat Chester-le-Street and closest rivals Guisborough Town slip up at Marske.
Warren Byrne’s treble and a brace from Elliot Gardner imploded a dogged Seaham defence while there was an emotional first goal for the club from 17-year-old James Oliver, nephew of the boss.
Oliver senior named Mark Peck at left back after the big defender passed a pre-match fitness test with Stuart Owen and Mellanby restored to the starting XI following the dismal cup exit in midweek.
Aycliffe, backed by another strong following, started the brighter and Ben Wood forced ‘keeper Paul McSween into a diving stop after just five minutes.
Wood’s angled effort was parried by the Seaham stopper who recovered in time to hold Owen’s left-footed rebound from the edge of the area.
Skipper Sean Tarling was next to sting McSween’s palms with a fine 25-yard left-footed drive which had the big stopper at full stretch in clawing away from his bottom left-hand corner.
The visitors broke the deadlock in the tenth minute when Mellanby’s superbly weighted ball over the top of the defence was latched on to by Byrne who cleverly nut-megged the advancing McSween before sliding into the empty net from the 18-yard line.
Red Star almost levelled three minutes later when the Newtonians failed to deal properly with James Fairley’s right wing corner and Tarling had to head Jonathan Monaghan’s headed effort off the goal-line.
As half-time loomed there was some breathtaking action as Oliver’s side turned defence into attack and almost doubled their lead. Colin Wright’s through ball to Monaghan was superbly intercepted by the out-rushing Scott Pocklington and in picking up the loose ball Mellanby sent Byrne clear once more but this time the division’s top scorer saw his left-footed angled drive shave the far upright.
News came through from Marske at half-time saying that the Seasiders were ahead against North Shields meaning any slip up from the Newtonians would mean keeping the champagne on ice for a second successive week.
Seaham obviously hadn’t read the script and tried to turn party poopers in levelling just after the restart. Robbie Bird picked up a loose ball on the left wing and his pin-point cross was turned home at the front post by Mark Ewart in rather unorthodox fashion.
Oliver junior was introduced as a 52nd minute substitute after Chris Beckett went off with a hamstring complaint as the Aycliffe hierarchy shuffled the back-line, restoring Peck to his more familiar central role.
Just seven minutes after his introduction, Oliver, playing at left-back, sent Byrne free down the left-hand side of the box and the former Seaham striker cutely picked out the marauding Gardner to smash home from six yards.
Byrne had an effort saved after 71 minutes but he turned provider for his sides third just a minute later when he again squared from the left for Gardner to poke home at the front post from a similar distance as his first.
It was Gardner’s 18th of the campaign and his ninth from his new-found midfield role. Incidentally, Gardner’s first of the afternoon was his side’s 100th goal in the league this season and Oliver’s side can still reach the 100-point barrier with four more victories.
With 11 minutes remaining and news of a Shields equaliser in Cleveland Aycliffe sensed promotion and went for the jugular. Byrne saw an effort strike the upright after McSween got a faint touch to his right-footed shot when Mellanby once more played the former Shildon hitman into a great position.
Mellanby had a hand in Aycliffe’s fourth, and Oliver’s first for the club in the 82nd minute. The former Darlington forward beat two men in reaching the by-line and his expert pull back was inch-perfect for Oliver who stroked home from inside the six-yard box.
Three minutes later and after dancing his way through three tackles, Mellanby was scythed down in the area giving Byrne the opportunity to grab his 40th goal of the campaign. The 28-year-old made no mistake as he smashed his spot-kick straight down the centre of McSween’s goal.
Byrne got his hat-trick in injury time as the champagne corks popped in the Aycliffe dugout. Gardner’s through ball split the defence and Byrne done the rest from the one-on-one with McSween.
It was Byrne’s fourth treble of the season, and his 40th league goal keeping him head and shoulders ahead of nearest challenger, Crook’s Andy Appleby back on 30 strikes.
The final whistle brought delirium to the sidelines as the strong travelling contingent invaded the pitch to salute their heroes. The roof almost came off the dressing room as the celebrations continued as Aycliffe clinched their second promotion in three years.
Next season will see them host notorious Northern League names such as Bedlington Terriers and Whitley Bay while local derbies with Shildon, Spennymoor and Bishop Auckland will replace those with Crook and Darlington RA.
Boss Oliver spoke on behalf of his team after the game when he said, “It’s been a great four seasons [referring also to the fantastic Durham Alliance success in 2008] and now we want to win the title.”
And that title can be sealed on home soil next week for the side who has led the table since October 16th, should results go their way.
Star Man – Dan MELLANBY
It’s harsh not giving it to Byrne after he continued his fine goalscoring exploits while Gardner and Tarling had a fine afternoon in the engine room. Mellanby however was unplayable, and everything he touched resulted in either an opportunity or a goal for his side.