By Paul McGeary
Newton Aycliffe were defeated but not humbled by a Darlington side consisting of several first team players, triallists and a selection of last year’s impressive youth side.
Against the run of play, the Quakers took a first half lead, through John Campbell, who just eight months ago was playing at the exact same level as Allan Oliver’s Newtonians do so now.
The goal of Jamie Barton, a back-post tap-in just after the restart gave Craig Liddle’s side the upper hand and Michael Smith added a third moments later.
Aycliffe skipper Sean Tarling quickly reduced the deficit but a fourth goal killed the game, this time scored by the impressive Dale Hopson.
Ben Wood’s last minute strike put a more forgiving look on the scoreboard as Aycliffe celebrated another bumper pay-day with a crowd of over 800.
Seven minutes had elapsed when Smith’s flick on was met by the left foot of Rob Ramshaw, but former Quakers stopper Scott Pocklington in the home goal saved well with his legs to keep the scores level.
Chase McMullen sent Wood free down the right-hand channel two minutes later and after the former Sunderland Academy product turned experienced defender Adam Quinn inside-out, Lloyd Saxton had to be at his best to save the ensuing left-footed angled drive.
Wood broke again in the 23rd minute but this time Quinn was his equal, although the loose ball only found the feet of Anth Campbell whose 25-yard rocket screeched narrowly wide of Saxton’s upright.
Wood’s one-two with strike partner Elliot Gardner just before the half hour resulted in a palm-stinging shot which Saxton once more beat away but just as the home crowd thought their side was about to breach the visiting goal, Quakers took the lead.
Hopson found space on the edge of the area and threaded a clever ball to Campbell who took the ball in his stride inside the area before coolly slotting under Pocklington.
Paul Broom’s angled ball over the top sent Wood away as half-time loomed but the 20-year-old striker’s cheeky lob had just too much on it and dipped over Saxton’s crossbar, rather than under it.
Former Darlington forward Dan Mellanby was introduced as a substitute at the interval but before he could get on the ball his side found themselves two goals down. Campbell, growing in confidence out-muscled his marker and squared across the face of goal for Barton to tuck home at the back post.
Campbell struck an upright five minutes later before crossing for Smith to head just wide as the hour mark approached.
With 26 minutes remaining Smith made the game safe as he ran on to Matthew Crust’s dead-weight through-ball to send Pocklington the wrong way with a smart finish just inside the post.
Tarling’s goal came just 30-seconds later following some fine build-up play on the edge of the area from Mellanby and Gardner gave the skipper the opportunity to beat Saxton from eight yards.
A well worked Quakers free-kick had Pocklington in action again on 78 minutes, the giant stopper superbly beating Hopson’s drive over his bar but from the resultant corner, Broom could only clear Crust’s 20-yard drive into the path of Hopson who slammed home from point-blank range.
Gardner crossed for Wood to beat Saxton at his near post with virtually the last kick of the game as Oliver’s side reduced the deficit and sent the home fans away with plenty to feel jovial about.
Team; Pocklington; Broom, Poole (Mellanby 45), Peck, Craddock; McMullen, Tarling (McHew 70), Knox, Campbell (Owen 70); Wood, Gardner
Unused; Robson
Attendance 822

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