By Paul McGeary
An under-par Newton Aycliffe extended their unbeaten streak to six games in all competitions although they can count themselves somewhat fortunate to have grabbed something from a game which lowly Tow Law Town fully deserved to win.
In his midweek programme notes, Allan Oliver warned that there are no ‘lesser’ teams in the Northern League and the Lawyers proved his point as they defied their league berth to almost stun their sixth-placed opponents – who were looking to go third in the table with a victory.
Oliver restored Stephen Gibson to right-back at the expense of his nephew James while Darren Craddock and Mark Peck – making his 50th club appearance - switched positions at centre half and left-back. Glen Robson replaced the injured Dale Jardine up front, with the latter suffering from a knee complaint.
Aycliffe started brightly which was something they didn’t do in falling behind to Jarrow Roofing in midweek, and camped their opponents deep in their own half for the opening 10 minutes.
Yet Lawyers proved that possession and territory counts for nothing as they quickly broke in a move which saw John Close booked for scything down Marc Nixon on the edge of the area.
Player-Manager Ian Davison stepped up and thundered a left-footed free-kick into Scott Pocklington’s top right-hand corner despite the ‘keeper’s best efforts and fingertip attempt to save.
Davison’s men could have doubled their advantage on 27 minutes as Greg Halliday’s goalbound effort looped up off Close but failed to get past the covering Craddock who was well placed on the post to head clear for a corner.
Robson thought he had equalised when he tucked home Craddock’s knock-down just before half time but the linesman correctly ruled the former Darlington forward to have been stood in an offside position.
The second period started little better for the hosts as they struggled to get their usual passing game going amidst the physical hustle-bustle of their battling opponents.
On 64 minutes a right wing corner found Lawyers stand-in skipper Stephen Tobin unmarked six yards out but this time it was the turn of Sean Tarling to clear off the line with a well-timed header.
Stephen Gibson struck a 30-yard effort just over for Aycliffe as they asked a few more questions in the final 20 minutes but it took until the 86th minute for the scoreline to reach parity.
Tarling broke and found substitute Anth Campbell on the left. Campbell fed Gardner on the edge of the area and in a quick turn of feet, Aycliffe’s top scorer fired goalwards only to see his effort deflect off Carl Pottinger to re-route it past the despairing dive of ‘keeper Richard Gordon.
Aycliffe went for the victory after this point and the three points almost came in injury time as Robson fired goalwards from a similar position to that of his strike partner four minutes earlier, only to see his effort agonisingly scrape past the upright and behind.
Aycliffe take their unbeaten run to Champions Spennymoor next week, and will benefit from the midweek break as they look to get numbers back. Moors go to table-topping West Auckland on Tuesday night.
Star Man
Stephen Gibson – Bright!

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