Newton Aycliffe FC v Whitly Bay

By Paul McGeary
In what was undoubtedly their finest hour since their inception to the Northern League, Newton Aycliffe destroyed non-league giants Whitley Bay in the Northern League's League Cup on a bitter cold evening at Hillheads - where the Bay had lost just once previous this season, way back on August 16th.
The double FA Vase winners and current holders were left reeling as the side whom everyone in the Northern League circle seems to be waxing lyrical about became the first side since Nantwich back in October 2008 to breach the home Bay net four times in a game.
Bay included four of the team who graced the Wembley turf back in May, including the front three of Lee Kerr, Paul Chow and Paul Robinson whilst their visitors by contrast had to do without 16-goal top-scorer Warren Byrne, an unused substitute through injury.
The cold weather didn't deter any of the strong Newtonian faithful, who once more came en masse to support their side who have now lost just once in their last 13 outings in all competitions.
Skipper Sean Tarling stung the palms of 'keeper Kyle Hayes inside the opening 10-minutes as Aycliffe showed their more illustrious opponents that they weren't present just to make up the numbers. Hayes - making his 14th appearance of the season - did well to parry the 20-yard shot out of danger, diving to his left.
Bay however silenced the travelling support in the 14th minute when Glen Taylor's sweetly struck 20-yard shot found Scott Pocklington's bottom left-hand corner after the visitors failed to deal with a left-wing corner.
Ian Chandler's side, sitting 5th in the first division moved the ball around the large field with aplomb, but in Mark Peck and the returning John Close, they found the Aycliffe defence a difficult nut to crack, Peck in particular his rock-steady self.
With 19-minutes gone, the ever-maturing Josh Knox almost levelled the scores with a blistering 25-yard half-volley. However, the 18-year-old midfielder saw his shot clawed from the top corner by Hayes, showing why he has managed to wrestle the number-one jersey from twice-Wembley-winning custodian Terry Burke.
Paul Broom was next to go close for Allan Oliver's side when he fired into the side netting having been slipped through by Tarling with 24 minutes on the watch, with many of the 278 in attendance thinking the ball had actually beaten Hayes at his near post.
Bay almost doubled their advantage on 35 minutes when Robinson was allowed to maraud forward from half-way, striking a shot that bounced up off Pocklington's bar from fully 35-yards, falling safe behind the big 'keeper's goal.
This fired the Newtonians back into action and just three minutes later Knox sent Broom racing clear down the right wing. The former Coxhoe Athletic man crossed into the middle, finding Tarling whose shot was unfairly charged down by Brian Rowe, using his arms on the penalty spot.
In the absence of Byrne, last year's top-scorer Elliot Gardner stepped up and stroked the penalty coolly past Hayes into the bottom left-hand corner, despite the 'keeper guessing correctly.
Aycliffe were receiving plaudits from all corners of the ground during the interval, with many home fans suggesting their promotion from the second tier was a mere formality given their first-half performance and if the ensuing 45-minutes were anything to make judgements from, then perhaps the Bay faithful will be seeing more of Oliver's men come next season.
Peck headed his second of the season just four minutes into the second period, rising highest to tower Anth Campbell's corner past Hayes at the near post to give Aycliffe a deserved lead on the evening.
The goal of the game extended this advantage when Aycliffe's third arrived just before the hour-mark. Paul Broom outstripped substitute Chris Fawcett down the right-wing and in waiting until he reached the byline before hitting his cross, he got the desired angle to find Gardner at the front post, with the 21-year-old marksman superbly executing a stooping header to beat Hayes high into the roof of his net.
Aycliffe weren't finished with that though and the nerves on the visitor’s bench were eased somewhat in the 72nd minute when Tarling sealed victory with a fantastic goal. Peck's high ball into the area was only partly headed clear and with Tarling racing goalwards, the skipper met the ball just as it bounced on the edge of the area to fire low past Hayes, despite the 'keeper's best efforts.
Bay were restricted to unsuccessful forays down the Aycliffe left and a couple of wayward long-range efforts in the closing minutes as Oliver's army closed out what was a fantastic night in their early Northern League history.
An apparent serious injury to full-back Brian Fairhurst deep into injury time marred the victory celebrations, the 32-year-old stretchered off after going for a whole-hearted tackle on the edge of his box, despite the game being in its dying embers, to reflect what was a wholly committed team effort from the division two leaders.
Star Man - Elliot GARDNER
Whilst it's be unfair to name just one, Aycliffe's number 10 narrowly outshines each-and-every-one of his team-mates after a display of tireless front-running, expert hold-up play, composure in netting his first goal and predatory instinct in heading his second.