By Martin Walker
Aycliffe threw away a three-goal half-time lead against Division Two side Darlington RA in their final pre-season friendly.
Seven days before the season curtain-raiser against Stokesley next Saturday, the Newtonians were cruising to victory thanks to first-half goals by Elliot Gardner, Ben Wood and Jamie Poole.
And even after gifting their visitors two second-half goals, Gardner grabbed what should have been an 89th-minute winner.
But RA capitalised on Aycliffe’s ignorance to score two late goals, with the 91st-minute equaliser being literally the last kick of the game.
Aycliffe got off to a flying start, taking the lead in the second minute. Left-back Poole, who enjoyed a trial with Darlington against Sunderland during the week after impressing Quakers boss Mark Cooper on Tuesday night, floated a left-wing cross into the box for Gardner. His header was saved, but the midfielder snaffled up the loose ball to put his side ahead.
The second came on the half-hour mark thanks to a superb through-ball by Dan Mellanby for Ben Wood, who finished clinically across the RA ‘keeper.
And Poole netted the third five minutes later, heading in from Mark Peck’s right-sided cross after RA failed to clear a corner.
David Webster pulled a goal back for the visitors in the 53rd minute before Peck was penalised for a foul inside the box, and Fred Huscroft scored from the penalty spot to make it 3-2.
Gardner scored what should have been the winner in the 89th minute. Mellanby brilliantly lifted the ball over a defender inside the area and Gardner took one touch on his knee before finishing with his left foot.
But instead of seeing the game out, Aycliffe went to sleep. Huscroft scored RA’s third in the 90th minute and, with the last kick of the game, Michael Coleman grabbed their dramatic equaliser to frustrate the Newtonians.
Team: Pocklington, Oliver (M Wood, 59), Poole, Peck, Craddock, McMullen (Robson, 59 (Sowerby, 73)), Knox, Gardner, Mellanby, B Wood, Owen (McHue, 65).

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