By Paul McGeary
Newton Aycliffe held their nerve in the first ever penalty shoot-out at Moore Lane Park to see off Division One leaders Consett on a bitter cold October evening.
Striker Dan Mellanby scored the decisive penalty after Man of the Match Scott Pocklington had saved from Dale Burrell and former Aycliffe triallist Jamie Poole had fired wide.
Allan Oliver refered to this game in his programme notes as a barometer of how far his side had really come in the two years since the Steelmen had battered Aycliffe - then a Wearside League outfit - 5-1 at the same stage of the competition in 2008.
And although his side were arguably second-best on the night, the fact that they held Consett for 120-minutes shows that perhaps his side are gearing themselves up for possible further encounters against a side who had won 10 of their previous 11 games in the top-flight.
Oliver recalled his nephew - and Under-18's captain - James to the starting XI after the late withdrawal of Mark Peck, whilst Stuart Owen and Chase McMullen got rare starting places as the manager shuffled his deck with a vital league visit to Darlington RA on the horizon just 48-hours later.
Danger man Gavin Barton had the first opportunity of the night, but the eight-goal striker headed Lewis Teasdale's cross wide after nine minutes when well placed inside the six-yard box.
Teasdale and Barton were a constant threat with their closing down and off-the-ball movement and it came as no shock to any of the 193 in attendance when the 'Bart-Man' opened the scoring, firing low past Pocklington with half-time nearing.
Fred Woodhouse had the home side's first show on goal after 52 minutes, turning expertly 25-yards out and firing past Newtonian Barry Poskett only to see his effort crash off the outside of the post and run wide.
The same player stretched Poskett just four minutes later, but the former Tow Law 'keeper was equal to Woodhouse's header following Owen's left-wing centre.
Just after the hour mark, Poskett flattened Craig Mickle in trying to punch Sean Tarling's lofted free-kick clear from his 18-yard box, and with the ref pointing to the spot, Elliot Gardner took over the duty vacated by Warren Byrne's absence to coolly stroke home his fifth goal of the season.
Danny Craggs had a glorious chance to win the game in injury time, but the winger's shot went across Pocklington's goal whilst the big 'keeper was to thank for saving well from both Craggs and substitute Burrell with penalties looming.
And so it went down to whose nerve was the stronger, and with Poole and Brian Fairhurst missing for either side after two kicks each, it was all eyes on Pocklington again as he kept Burrell's effort out with a strong knee.
Mellanby was tasked with scoring the winning penalty, and despite Poskett getting his hands to the former Darlington man's kick, the ball found the bottom left-hand corner to send Aycliffe through with a famous scalp.
Star Man - Scott POCKLINGTON
Chris Beckett and James Oliver were superb at the back whilst Stuart Owen had a great game on the wing after several games on the bench. Pocklington should have done better with Barton's goal, but went from strength-to-strength thereafter and kept his side in it, not just with his two saves in extra-time, but with a vital penalty save in the resultant shoot-out.
The penalties...
Goal (1-0) - Stuart OWEN - Stepped up confidently and sent Poskett the wrong way, firing to the 'keeper's right.
Miss (1-0) - Jamie POOLE - Top scorer went for placement over power, but fired the wrong side of Pocklington's left-hand upright.
Miss (1-0) - Brian FAIRHURST - Went for the same corner as Owen, but Poskett guessed right and the ball was at a saveable height.
Goal (1-1) - Craig ROBSON - Skipper gave Pocklington no chance with a clinically hit spot-kick.
Goal (2-1) - Elliot GARDNER - Sent Poskett the wrong way with his second penalty of the evening.
Miss (2-1) - Dale BURRELL - Went for power, but Pocklington got his knees in the way to keep the ball out.
Goal (3-1) - Paul BROOM - Slotted low to Poskett's right, and although the 'keeper guessed right, Broom's accuracy didn't fail him.
Goal (3-2) - Lewis Teasdale - Gave Pocklington no chance as he fired low to the 'keeper's right.
Goal (4-2) - Dan MELLANBY - Followed Broom's lead, and despite Poskett's efforts, put enough power on the kick to find the back of the net.

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