Newton Aycliffe’s 11-match unbeaten run was ended away at South Shields with a 2-1 defeat.
A debut goal from Stephen Bogie had given the Newtonians the lead, but a fortunate equaliser from Denver Morris and Andrew Barclay’s winner ended Aycliffe’s run that stretched back to December.
Aycliffe were missing Danny Mellanby, Darren Craddock and Josh Gray, while Dale Jardine returned only to the bench. Bogie was handed a start in attack with Ben Wood, while Stephen Gibson moved to the back three, with Paul Broom playing on the right. Stuart Owen was deployed as a left-wingback on his 100th Aycliffe appearance, while Scott Pocklington returned in goal.
On a miserable, rainy night on Tyneside, Aycliffe were on the back foot from the start. Sean Tarling was forced into a goal line clearance within the first minute, sliding in to block Morris’ header.
From the resulting corner Duncan O’Brien’s powerful header flew just past the Pocklington’s left-hand post. The goalkeeper, who missed Saturday’s goalless draw due to work commitments, was busy, making a superb save on 20 minutes from Stephen Ramsay’s close-range header.
But it was Aycliffe who took the lead. Bogie, who had signed the previous day from Birtley Town and scored 14 goals in 16 appearances for Sunderland West End in the Wearside League, took just 30-minutes to score his first goal for the club. Stuart Owen’s right-wing cross found Bogie in the six-yard area and the debutant clinically headed past Mariners keeper Jonathan Bell.
Tarling went close to making it two soon after. The skipper turned past a couple of challengers before letting fly with his left foot from 25-yards out, but Bell was able to parry the ball away from danger.
However, Aycliffe were soon back on level terms. In the 40th minute, Barclay released Morris down the Mariners’ right and the winger’s mis-hit cross flew straight into the Aycliffe goal.
Within 30 seconds of the second-half the hosts were ahead. Barclay picked the ball up in space just inside the area and let fly with an unstoppable effort to give his side the lead.
South Shields didn’t look like a side that hadn’t won for four games and had chances to extend their lead. Pocklington was forced into a sweeper role on a couple of occasions, storming out of his box to clear dangerous counter-attacks.
Aycliffe could only muster a couple of half chances in return. Ben Wood tricked his way past O’Brien, but Josh Knox was unable to steer the resulting cross goalwards. Paul Broom then found Owen in space on the edge of the area, but the winger’s left-footed volley flew harmlessly over the bar.
Defender John Close came the closest to equalising, narrowly heading Nathan Wilson’s 75th minute free-kick over the crossbar.
With time ticking away, Aycliffe sent on Dale Jardine, Warren Byrne and Luke Black in search of an equaliser, but it was the home side who nearly added to the scoresheet.
Substitute Peter Kane released Morris, whose cross found David Calvin in acres of space, but the winger could only crash his effort off the bar.
Aycliffe remain sixth, level on points with Dunston who travel to Moore Lane Park on Saturday.

Star Man
Stephen Gibson - busy

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