Saturday 3rd November 2018
Ebac Northern League Division One
Ryhope Colliery Welfare 1 v Newton Aycliffe 1
Newton Aycliffe came away from Ryhope Colliery Welfare with a 1-1 draw, but they should really have taken all three points. They squandered several good chances, and conceded a late goal. Both sides played some good football in the extremely windy conditions.
Aycliffe had the benefit of the wind in the first half, and took advantage after only 3 minutes. Ryhope keeper Atkinson beat Shaun Hudson to a through ball, but his clearance ballooned to Ben Wood. He controlled it well and volleyed the ball back over the stranded keeper and the defenders into the top corner from 22 yards. Wood nearly had a second on 17 minutes when his well-hit free kick was tipped over by Atkinson. Ryhope started to get a foothold in the game, and Ellis hit the post after James Winter had pushed a shot out. Matty Pennal had a couple of chances before the break, but couldn’t increase the lead.
Aycliffe played against the wind in the second half, but were the better team again. There were good chances for Vinny Gash, Stu Thompson and Ethan Wood but they also couldn’t trouble Atkinson. The inevitable happened with four minutes of normal time left. A Ryhope corner was headed onto Jones at the far post to fire in the equaliser. Deep into injury time Aycliffe man-of-the-match Marc Costello got on the end of a cross, but somehow Atkinson kept the header out.
Earlier in the week Newton Aycliffe progressed to the quarter finals of the League Cup, with a narrow 2-1 win over Bedlington Terriers. The first half hour went without incident, as the midfields dominated the play. Bedlington broke the deadlock on 35 minutes when a corner wasn’t cleared by Aycliffe and Williamson was first to the loose ball and he made no mistake from six yards. James Winter made an important save for Aycliffe right on half time.
Aycliffe upped the tempo in the second half and started to break through the line and create chances. Aycliffe man-of-the-match Wilf Dinsdale got around the back of the defence on the hour and put in a god low cross which was hacked away by the defence. Matty Pennal and Marc Costello then had chances. Aycliffe were doing all the pressing, and they were rewarded when Matty Pennal got on the end of a cross to guide the ball past Bedlington keeper McCafferty. Two minutes later Aycliffe got another. A cross was not fully cleared by Bedlington and Liam Browne hit the loose ball into the corner of the net on 86 minutes. Aycliffe saw out time for the win.
Newton Aycliffe have been drawn at home to Shildon in the next round of the Durham Challenge Cup. The game will take place on Tuesday 18 December (ko 7.30pm). The two neighbours meet again on Boxing Day when Shildon visit Moore Lane for a League game with a kick off at 1.00pm.
