Mixed results for Newton Aycliffe FC in recent days with a magnificent win over league title favourites Shildon followed by a loss at Consett.
When the heavens opened on Thursday afternoon Aycliffe supporters began to worry that we would see another postponement. Fortunately a week or more of dry weather had given the Moore Lane pitch time to recover & cope with the downpour.
Shildon came into the game knowing that a win for them and a loss by Marske would secure them the title that night. However, Aycliffe had not read the script and a hat trick from Jordan Laidler secured the points for the Newtonians.
The first goal came after 10 mins when Laidler took advantage of a scramble in the box to shoot into the corner of the net. The Aycliffe number 9 made it 2-0 five minutes before halftime turning in a cross which was missed by the Shildon keeper.
Laidler completed his hat trick on the hour by getting on the end of a good cross from John Campbell on the right wing.
Aycliffe then visited Consett on Saturday and suffered a 4-2 defeat. Both sides had several players missing. Aycliffe’s season was planned to end on 23 April but has now been extended to 11 May. Inevitably some players will now be unavailable, added to the injuries being sustained in three games a week.
Stuart Banks came close to an early goal at Consett but his third minute effort was ruled out for offside. There were chances at both ends in the first half hour but no goals until 35mins when Alan Harrison made a good run through from midfield, passing to Banks who played a delicate chip out of the reach of Consett keeper Gareth Young. The home side equalised five minutes later with a cross headed into an open goal. Consett finished the first half the stronger with Aycliffe keeper Lewis Brass pulling off a good save, tipping a good shot over the crossbar, just before the break.
Aycliffe made a good start to the second half and Laidler hit the bar within five minutes of the restart.
Consett put Aycliffe under more pressure and came close to taking the lead with twenty minutes to go when a header went wide. Two minutes later they got the lead with a shot from close range.
Aycliffe equalised on 77mins thanks to a 35 yard Dennis Knight free kick from the wing. The long range effort caught out the stranded keeper who couldn’t reach the ball as it crept in just under the bar. In the last 10 minutes Consett piled on the pressure on and scored two more goals to take the points.
The punishing fixture schedule continues for Aycliffe with a home game to Whitley Bay on Tuesday, away to Marske on Thursday and home to Bishop Auckland on Saturday.