Newton Aycliffe FC v Stokesley

By Paul McGeary
Newton Aycliffe stormed to the top of the Northern League with a resounding 6-1 home victory over a beleaguered Stokesley side.
Ben Wood’s first half treble set the Newtonians on the road to victory, complemented by goals from Elliot Gardner and a debut notch from defender Darren Craddock.
Sangha Indy pulled a first half strike back for the visitors but substitute Glen Robson slid a late sixth in for Allan Oliver’s side.
Aycliffe started much the better side, with debutant Josh Gray and seasoned striker Dan Mellanby unplayable at times.
As little as three minutes were on the clock when Wood’s left footed effort from 20-yards deflected up onto the cross bar and over for a corner.
Two minutes later and Mellanby stung the palms of the busy Justin Hutchinson in the North Riding club’s goal, after tormenting his marker inside the area.
Wood grabbed his first goal when he sent Hutchinson the wrong way with a coolly taken penalty after Mellanby was felled by Carl Mottram after 12 minutes.
90-seconds later and Gardner finished off a four man move involving James Oliver, Wood and Mellanby, although Hutchinson will accept blame for allowing the 22-year-old’s shot slip through his legs.
Aycliffe were cruising and extended their advantage on 20 minutes when Gardner’s quick free-kick found Mellanby in the left-hand channel, who crossed to the back post for Craddock to nod his first goal for the Newtonians back across Hutchinson into the far corner.
Sean Tarling should have added a fourth a minute later when he screwed wide but just three minutes further had elapsed and Aycliffe grabbed their fourth.
Gray’s short corner found Mellanby on the corner of the area. The former Darlington striker waltzed past his marker once more and picked Wood out on the six-yard line with a fine square pass to slot home.
Wood forced a great save from Hutchinson and a good sliding block from Andrew Roe as he sought his hat-trick, but the 20-year-old had to hold his hands up when he fired high despite being sent through one-on-one by Christopher Beckett.
Seven minutes before half-time and Wood did notch his treble when he converted Mellanby’s clever through ball, dancing round Hutchinson in the process to slot into the empty net.
Indy bagged a mere first half consolation when he beat debutant ‘keeper Andrew Spence to Nathan Porritt’s dead-weight pass and stroked the ball home unchallenged.
Aycliffe changed their dynamic in the second half and retained possession while Stokesley camped men in their own half in a desperate act of operation damage limitation.
Gray stung Hutchinson’s hands while the stopper made a smart diving save from substitute Josh Knox on 78 minutes.
Aycliffe hit their sixth with 10 minutes remaining after Stuart Owen’s left-wing centre was slid home at the back post by another substitute Glen Robson, also making his league debut for the Newtonian side.
Oliver spared Spence’s blushes in injury time, clearing bravely off the line after Michael Mackin beat the outrushing ‘keeper to a long ball sent forward from the back.
It remains to be seen whether either side will continue their contrasting fortunes, but as far as season openings go, the Aycliffe hierarchy could not have asked for any better.
Star Man
Ben Wood – treble!