Newton Aycliffe continued their unbeaten start to first division football with a 1-1 draw with Bishop Auckland, but Allan Oliver’s side will be disappointed not to have two more points to show for their efforts atHeritagePark.
Aycliffe could have been out of sight in the first-half, but went into the half-time break level at 1-1 after Andrew Johnson’s spot-kick cancelled out Paul Broom’s delightful sixth-minute chip.
The Two Blues’ three-man back-line was unable to cope with Aycliffe’s front four at times, but a mixture of a poor playing surface and an inspired performance from Peter Jeffries in the home-side’s goal prevented Aycliffe from grabbing a winner.
Bishop came out the traps fast and threatened in the third-minute. Chris Bell found Johnson in the Aycliffe area, whose shot was well parried by Andrew Spence and Daniel Hawkins’ follow-up was blocked by Sean Tarling.
Tarling turned from goal-stopper, to goal-creator just three minutes later, as Aycliffe took the lead. Aycliffe broke fast down the left-hand side, with Josh Gray enjoying the free space he was afforded thanks to the home-side’s setup, and he found Tarling in the centre. The skipper threaded through a pass for Broom to run on to and the winger finished off the move in style, chipping Jeffries from the edge of the area.
Aycliffe settled into the game from there, taking full control of proceedings. But it wasn’t until the 26th minute when the next opening presented itself. Anthony Campbell ran 30-yards into the heart of the Bishop defence, before finding Mellanby on the edge of the area. The former Bishop-striker rolled the ball into Tarling’s path, but the skipper’s 20-yard drive was well held by Jeffries.
Mellanby was involved again two minutes later, winning his header against Lewis Brown to release Ben Wood down Aycliffe’s right. The 19-year-old crossed to Gray at the far post, but Jeffries managed to block the winger’s shot with his feet.
Just as Aycliffe were looking comfortable, Bishop somehow found themselves level. Johnson went down under a challenge from Campbell and was awarded a spot-kick, though contact seemed to be minimal. Johnson dusted himself down to take the penalty and found the bottom left-hand corner of Spence’s goal to level proceedings.
Aycliffe looked to regain their advantage before half-time, with Mellanby releasing Broom through on goal but Jeffries saved with his feet again.
Bishop coped better with Aycliffe’s front four in the second-half, but it was still Aycliffe creating the better chances. Eleven minutes into the second-period, Broom successfully chased what looked to be a lost cause and won possession on the byline, before feeding Mellanby in the area. The striker tried to chip Jeffries, but his effort landed on top of the net.
Four minutes later the duo were involved again, this time Mellanby finding Broom in space, but he was unable to add a second goal, with his long-range half-volley flying harmlessly over.
Neither side was able to create another opening until the closing stages. Despite having a day less to rest before the game, it was Aycliffe who finished the stronger. With five-minutes left Mellanby shot wide after a one-two on the edge of the box with Elliot Gardner.
The 32-year-old came even closer to getting the goal his play deserved as the clock ticked onto 90-minutes. He turned his marker on the edge of the area but his 20-yard effort flew narrowly past Jeffries’ left-hand post.
It was then Gardner’s turn to come agonisingly close to snatching a late-winner, as he flicked Wood’s centre narrowly over the bar.

Star Man – Dan Mellanby – fulcrum.

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