Aycliffe came away from Guisborough with a point in a 1-1 draw, but should have taken three. They fashioned the better moves and missed several good chances. Guisborough started brightly and had a good chance on 9 minutes, but hit the side netting. Aycliffe came into the game and on 12 minutes Craig Hutchinson got through one-on-one but shot straight at home keeper Nixon.

Kurt Matthews then had a couple of chances, putting a header past the post, and shooting straight at Nixon. On 21 minutes, Aycliffe went ahead when Craig Hutchinson latched onto a loose ball in the box and fired it low into the corner. Guisborough levelled in the 35th minute when Aycliffe failed to clear a corner and Steel fired it in for the home side. Half-time 1-1.

Aycliffe had another one-on-one after 55 minutes when Jordan Roberts got through but he hit his shot straight at Nixon. On 69 minutes Nixon pulled off a great save from substitute James Oliver who had directed his header well from a free kick. New signing Jordan Jewson came on as a substitute and made some positive runs for Aycliffe.

Guisborough had a late surge for a winner, but Aycliffe held firm, with man-of-the match Andrew Grant-Soulsby marshalling the defence well.

The result was Aycliffe’s fourth draw in a row & they remain 19th in the Ebac Northern League.

They have only one remaining game in January, a trip to North Shields on Wednesday 24th. Their next home game is Saturday 3 February when Shildon will be the visitors to Moore Lane.

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