Aycliffe hit four

Newton Aycliffe put four goals past Thornaby without reply at the Beaumont Landscapes stadium. Both sides played good football on a heavy pitch, but Aycliffe were the better side and ruthless in front of goal, with keeper Adam Pickford equal to all of Thornaby’s efforts.

Aycliffe got away to a blistering start, scoring three times in the first fifteen minutes. After three minutes, Liam McMamara headed in a corner from Ethan Wood. Four minutes later, captain Aaron Brown got on the end of a Lewis Walton cross to make 2-0. On the quarter hour, leading scorer Dean Thexton collected a pass twenty five yards out and hammered the ball into the top of the net for the third goal.

Thornaby then had a couple of half chances, but didn't trouble Pickford in the Aycliffe goal. Both sides exchanged further chances, but there were no more goals before half time.

On 58 minutes, Liam Jarvie received the ball from a throw in, beat a defender and hit a low shot past Thornaby keeper Maxwell for 4-0. Aycliffe had further chances from Jarvis, Wood and Thexton, but Maxwell kept those out. Aycliffe were on top, and nine minutes from time Walton struck the bar with a free kick. Both sides had chances near the end, but the game ended 4-0. Aycliffe remain in sixth position, with games in hand.

Next match is home to Stockton on Tuesday (December 17, 7.45pm) in the Durham Challenge Cup, followed by a home game against Ashington on Saturday (December 21, 3pm).

MOTM : Brown. Cautions : none. Subs: Pennal for Thexton (75), Carr for Wood (82), Coles for Brown (82). Attendance : 103.

Report by David Strickland