Back
Wed 16 Feb 2011
Newton Aycliffe FCCrook Town
S Tarling (0'), W Byrne (0'), C Mickle (0')
3
1
Newton Aycliffe FC v Crook Town
Stephen Cunliffe16 Feb 2011 - 21:30
Share via
Match report
By Paul McGeary
Newton Aycliffe enjoyed a smooth passage into the last-eight of the Ernest Armstrong Memorial second division cup after defeating local rivals Crook Town.
All of the hard work was done inside the opening half hour with Allan Oliver’s side racing into a three-goal lead from which their opponents would never recover.
A late Andy Appleby goal was all a lacklustre second half had to offer as the game petered out with the Newtonians dropping down through the gears with Saturday’s arduous trek to Whitehaven in mind.
Boss Oliver shuffled the deck and recalled Anth Campbell to the side in the absence of Fred Woodhouse. Stuart Owen moved forward from left back while Paul Broom stepped down to the bench to give Chase McMullen a rare start.
Dan Mellanby was rested as Josh Knox returned after an eight game absence and there was a spot on the bench for the experienced Dion Raitt, making his comeback from a horrific knee injury sustained at Guisborough back in August.
Crook were forced to play skipper John Jury out of position at left-back and despite being without the suspended Kevin Devine, still fielded star ‘keeper Ian Myers, flighty winger Martin O’Riordan and Appleby, the 25-goal hitman hot on Byrne’s heels at the head of the goalscoring charts.
The home side started the brighter, attacking from the off and enjoying large chunks of possession. Craig Mickle, restored to his favoured front man role opened the scoring in just the eighth minute when he acrobatically volleyed Owen’s left-wing centre past Myers into the bottom left-hand corner.
The same man fired just wide with a 20-yard effort minutes later before Oliver’s side doubled their advantage on 20 minutes. Byrne charged down Connor Walker’s clearance before running unchallenged from half-way to fire high past Myers from the edge of the area to grab his 28th goal of the season – his first in cup competition for his home-town team.
Nine minutes later and the game was ended as a contest when skipper Sean Tarling ghosted in at the back post, stooping to head another Owen centre past the helpless Myers for his fourth goal of the campaign.
The second half severely lacked what the opening period didn’t but chances still went begging for Byrne, who headed yet another Owen cross over the town-end goal, and Raitt, who saw a 20-yard effort beat Myers but not the covering Jury who cleared off his own goal-line.
Appleby slotted home in the 79th minute to stay within three goals of Byrne and despite substitute James Oliver forcing a splendid save from his own ‘keeper Scott Pocklington in injury time, Aycliffe advanced to the last-eight where they will travel to promotion hopefuls Marske United.
Star Man – Sean TARLING
John Close and Mark Peck defended resolutely when required while wide pair Stuart Owen and Chase McMullen enjoyed fruitful evenings. The returning Josh Knox looked as though he’d never been away but for his drive, commitment and superbly taken goal, skipper Tarling takes the match day acclaim.
Newton Aycliffe enjoyed a smooth passage into the last-eight of the Ernest Armstrong Memorial second division cup after defeating local rivals Crook Town.
All of the hard work was done inside the opening half hour with Allan Oliver’s side racing into a three-goal lead from which their opponents would never recover.
A late Andy Appleby goal was all a lacklustre second half had to offer as the game petered out with the Newtonians dropping down through the gears with Saturday’s arduous trek to Whitehaven in mind.
Boss Oliver shuffled the deck and recalled Anth Campbell to the side in the absence of Fred Woodhouse. Stuart Owen moved forward from left back while Paul Broom stepped down to the bench to give Chase McMullen a rare start.
Dan Mellanby was rested as Josh Knox returned after an eight game absence and there was a spot on the bench for the experienced Dion Raitt, making his comeback from a horrific knee injury sustained at Guisborough back in August.
Crook were forced to play skipper John Jury out of position at left-back and despite being without the suspended Kevin Devine, still fielded star ‘keeper Ian Myers, flighty winger Martin O’Riordan and Appleby, the 25-goal hitman hot on Byrne’s heels at the head of the goalscoring charts.
The home side started the brighter, attacking from the off and enjoying large chunks of possession. Craig Mickle, restored to his favoured front man role opened the scoring in just the eighth minute when he acrobatically volleyed Owen’s left-wing centre past Myers into the bottom left-hand corner.
The same man fired just wide with a 20-yard effort minutes later before Oliver’s side doubled their advantage on 20 minutes. Byrne charged down Connor Walker’s clearance before running unchallenged from half-way to fire high past Myers from the edge of the area to grab his 28th goal of the season – his first in cup competition for his home-town team.
Nine minutes later and the game was ended as a contest when skipper Sean Tarling ghosted in at the back post, stooping to head another Owen centre past the helpless Myers for his fourth goal of the campaign.
The second half severely lacked what the opening period didn’t but chances still went begging for Byrne, who headed yet another Owen cross over the town-end goal, and Raitt, who saw a 20-yard effort beat Myers but not the covering Jury who cleared off his own goal-line.
Appleby slotted home in the 79th minute to stay within three goals of Byrne and despite substitute James Oliver forcing a splendid save from his own ‘keeper Scott Pocklington in injury time, Aycliffe advanced to the last-eight where they will travel to promotion hopefuls Marske United.
Star Man – Sean TARLING
John Close and Mark Peck defended resolutely when required while wide pair Stuart Owen and Chase McMullen enjoyed fruitful evenings. The returning Josh Knox looked as though he’d never been away but for his drive, commitment and superbly taken goal, skipper Tarling takes the match day acclaim.
Further reading
Team Sponsors
