Newton Aycliffe Women 7 v 2 Wear United
A strong squad of 18 players were available and the women were looking forward to putting in a strong performance before the Christmas break. With the gusting wind at our back, Aycliffe were asked to keep the ball down and not to hit it long and first half this was carried out brilliantly. It took just 4 minutes to get the first goal, the 2 strikers combined, Katie assisting Kate for her first of the game. Then 4 minutes later Kate gets her second, a great solo run, her first shot hitting the post but she was quickest to react and tap in for her second. Straight from the kick off and Aycliffe were on the front foot again, Jess was working hard down the left side and Wear were finding it difficult to stop her. A drive into the box from Jess and just as she was about to pull the trigger she was brought down. Penalty. Up steps our Captain, Annabelle, and she calmly slots it in the bottom right. Wear now started to get a foothold in the game and Aycliffe were struggling to break them down, on 18 minutes Aycliffe get a free kick just inside the opposition half, Lottie and Annabelle had a chat and it was Lottie to take and she riffled the ball which the keeper couldn’t hold, Annabelle was quickest to react and calmly finished for her second. Time for one more before half time and what a goal, Amber this time with the assist, a perfectly weighted ball for Katie who dinked the ball over the on-rushing keeper nestling the ball in the top corner, 5-0 HT. Second half, playing into the wind and Wear were more attacking and came back with two good goals of their own. Aycliffe battled hard to keep the lead and were rewarded late on with a brace from Frankie, her first goals for the club. 7-2 FT. POTM Jess.
Durham Corinthians 2 v 1 Newton Aycliffe Youth Seniors (Cup)
Away in the quarter final of the Shipowners cup for the seniors against a side 2 divisions above and with potential to be playing northern league 2 next season.
Early game was nip and tuck in the centre of midfield but also the fact they like to play out from the back saw us nick the ball off them in and around their box which we did on 3 or 4 occasions but did not take our chances. A bad mistake allowed Durham to take the lead, but then a run by Richard won a free kick 30 yards out, up stepped Jack and he found the top corner. The one time that Durham got in behind the Aycliffe defence and the ball is crossed into the 6 yard box for their striker to tap home. Second half the lads were asked to stay in the game and the last 15 mins they could go all-out attack. We still had plenty of half chances and looked the most likely to grab an equaliser. A ball found Niall 5 yards on side and clean though only to see the assistant referee flag for off side, the Ref blew just as Niall slotted home for Jack coming back from an off side position.
With 15 mins to go we added two attackers for defenders and although we created one more clear chance Aycliffe couldn’t find the all-important equaliser.
The management team could not be prouder of the lads, as Durham knew they had been in a game. Mom Kieran.