FC Hartlepool Reserves 2 v Newton Aycliffe Youth Seniors 5
Finally getting league games played on this trip to Hartlepool. First 20 minutes the game was nip and tuck with both sides not really creating anything before Jack Mortimer drove into the box and was brought down for a penalty, he stepped up and put Aycliffe in front. We were trying to play out from the back and over complicated things in midfield. A free kick, at 30 yards hit the target and had Adam Scott diving full stretch to tip onto the post from the rebound, Hartlepool equalised.
Another run by Jack saw him win our second penalty which once again he scored. HT 2-1. Into the 2nd half and a cross from Jack was headed home by Andrew Burrows, however another mistake at the back saw Hartlepool get themselves back into the game. Aycliffe then started to get a grip of the game and, from a free kick, Jack stepped up and extended the lead.
The lads finally started to show how they can play and wrapped the game up with a lovely ball from Niall setting Jack 1v1 with his full back, he went past him and slipped the ball under the keeper. Sometimes, to win a league, you have to win ugly and that’s what the team did. Big bonus to see Josh Bayne back on the pitch after being out, injured since October. MOM: Jack Mortimer.
Durham United Women 1 v Newton Aycliffe Youth Women 3
Aycliffe started on the front foot and it took just four minutes to find the back of the net. Sophie Sparrow-Woods with a great tackle at the back then picking out Jordan Saunders on the left hand side. Jordan got her head up and split the defence with a through ball, Katie Laura Bragg muscled in front of the defender, took it round the on rushing keeper and tapped the ball into the net.
Durham now started to get a foot hold in the game and were threatening going forward, the defence managed the threat well but just couldn’t keep hold of the ball and Durham kept coming. Against the run of play Aycliffe managed to get a second, this time Lauren Cockerill with an inch perfect pass to set Katie away, another cool calm finish and Aycliffe doubled the lead before HT.
Second half, a change in formation to try and nullify the threat from Durham and on the whole it worked; a few chances came for Aycliffe, but they couldn’t finish them. Then they got the third, a quick free kick from Annabelle Wilkinson McMillan to Jordan and another brilliant pass found Kate Williams out wide, with all still to do she drove into the box, shot which was well saved by the keeper, but she was more clinical with her second shot and Kate rifled home for Aycliffe’s third. Durham never gave up and got a consolation goal at the end and what a goal, ball out on the left and a switch to the right then a dinked shot over Courtney who had no chance, final score 1-3.
POTM: Alex Williams, playing out of position, she was solid at the back then at the end came close to grabbing a goal in a stint up front.