Newton Aycliffe FC v Eash Winning

By Paul McGearyNewton Aycliffe succumbed to their second straight pre-season defeat as division two Esh Winning defeated the top-flight newbies 3-2 at Waterhouses.Chris Smith scored a treble for the hosts after Glen Robson has cheekily put the Newtonians ahead inside the opening 10 minutes. Fred Woodhouse headed the sides level at 2-2.Daniel Robinson forced home 'keeper Carl Morris into a spectacular save in the sixth minute following his rasping 25-yard drive. From the resultant corner, Woodhouse crossed to Elliot Gardner at the back post who headed back across goal for Robson to back-heel home from inside the six-yard box.On 16 minutes former Aycliffe striker Craig Mickle beat the outrushing Scott Pocklington to a long punt forward and the 25-year-old striker squared unselfishly for Smith to smash home into the empty net.On 23 minutes, John Jury crossed from the right and Ian Ward outjumped Pocklington to cushion the ball into Smith's path for the diminutive midfielder to steer his side ahead.Woodhouses's equaliser came on 35 minutes after Morris failed to hold Chase McMullen's corner. The Stockton-born youngster expertly lofting his header over a crowd of defenders unable to clear from the goal-line.Five minutes before half-time Smith completed his hat-trick after his own hard work prevented a left-wing centre from running out of play. With the Aycliffe back-line seemingly asleep, Smith fired the ball home from an acute angle.Gardner had a goal chalked off for a tight offside just before the hour while Josh Knox and Sean Tarling had Morris at full stretch in preserving his side's lead as Aycliffe improved after the break, but ultimately failed to draw themselves level with a side whom they swapped positions with at the end of last term.Pocklington; Beckett, Oliver, Peck, Craddock; McMullen, Woodhouse, Tarling (c), Robinson; Gardner, Robson.Subs; Knox, Sowerby, HendrixNext up; Darlington Cleveland Bridge (h), Weds July 20th, 7.30pm