Newton Aycliffe FC v West Auckland Town

By Paul McGeary
Newton Aycliffe capitulated to a humiliating defeat against a side they knocked out of the League Cup just over six months ago, despite taking a 26th minute lead through Elliot Gardner's fifth pre-season strike.
Peter Dixon's West, who went on a magnificent run of form since his arrival from Crook Town in December, went nap at Moore Lane Park, running in seven goals to deflate Allan Oliver's men, in this hastily re-arranged fixture following the late withdrawal of Pontefract Colliery.
Tom Berj hit two in quick succession before Gary Martin glanced home a third before half time.
Substitute Paul Garthwaite scored on 50 and 52 minutes before fellow substitute strike pair Dan Olosuga and Dale Jardine completed the rout in the last 10 minutes.
Oliver may bemoan late preperations - with Colliers pulling out of the fixture with just 48 hours to go - and can also point to the fact that his star signing, Warren Byrne has had a setback in his fitness race, but with nine players in the starting XI, all of whom played over 20 times for the Newtonians last year, there really was no excuse for the performance that had many fans visibly irate upon leaving the ground.
Aycliffe however have a chance to exorcise their demons, with a home friendly this Tuesday against Stockton Town, the side from whom Oliver snapped up teenage winger Freddie Woodhouse over the summer.
Newton Aycliffe v Stockton Town, Tuesday 20 July, Moore Lane Park, Kick Off 19:30