Newton Aycliffe FC v Shildon

By Paul McGeary at Dean Street
Newton Aycliffe conceded two goals in the last nine minutes to throw away what would have been another cracking derby win.
A week after defeating West Auckland – who today claimed a shock 2-1 win at home to Darlington 1883 – Aycliffe undid a lot of good work by gifting Shildon two late goals, but deserved at least a point from their nearest rivals.
Allan Oliver’s side could have climbed out of the bottom-three drop-zone in the Ebac Northern League first division with a win, and if other results went their way, but it wasn’t to be.
The Newtonians led the game thanks to Fred Woodhouse’s 30th-minute strike and looked good for the three points after being the better side for an hour.
But in a cruel twist, Shildon turned the game on its head, with skipper Richard Flynn equalising in the 81st minute before Adam Johnston’s 30-yard free-kick five minutes from time clinched all three points for the Railwaymen.
The visitors started brightly and in the 13th minute a great build-up from Stuart Owen and Danny Earl fashioned a half-chance for Woodhouse, but he flashed across goal from 18 yards.
Martin Young’s driving run in the 23rd minute saw the ball fall to Kris Hughes but his effort was saved by Shildon keeper Keith Finch.
Aycliffe’s opener came on the half-hour, albeit somewhat fortuitously, when Owen’s long ball into the box was controlled by Woodhouse in the channel and his miss-hit left-footed cross sailed into Finch’s top corner.
The Blues Aycliffe failed to deal with a 44th-minute free-kick into the box and Ben Wood steered the loose ball just over from six yards.
Shildon threatened four minutes into the second half when Mark Hudson’s corner was punched clear to John Brackstone who volleyed over from 25 yards.
Finch was forced into an excellent save in the 60th minute when he had to tip Young’s dipping 20-yarder over the bar.
Jamie Owens fashioned some space on the edge of the box and rocketed a left-footed effort just past the post and bar in the 67th minute.
Then in the 72nd minute, a speculative clearance saw Ben Wood outstrip his brother Mark and lob the stranded Pocklington from 25 yards, but the ball luckily landed just wide.
Shildon’s leveller came with nine minutes to go. Aycliffe didn’t fully clear a corner, Brackstone’s ball in was headed across goal by Billy Greulish and Flynn stooped to head home inside the six-yard box.
Johnston fired a 30-yard free-kick past Pocklington into the top right-hand corner in the 85th minute to complete a late win for the hosts.