Newton Aycliffe Youth Women 6 v 2 Swalwell Ladies
Back at home this week and nice to see so many supporters turning out to watch the game.
Before the game both teams and all spectators joined in a minute’s round of applause to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the tragic death of Darren Scott.
With 4 wins in a row Aycliffe knew that today’s game would be tough but were up for the fight and everyone played their part. The game started well; Kate was played in after a 30-yard run, she placed the ball in the net only for it to be ruled offside, 0-0. It was Swalwell that opened the scoring when a miss-placed pass was capitalised on, 0-1. Heads didn’t drop and Aycliffe immediately fired back, Amber standing in at right back today won a tackle and played a ball in behind the Swalwell defence, Alex held her run, shrugged off a couple of tackles and finished calmly past the keeper, 1-1. Two minutes later and Alex gets her second, this time assisted by Bethany, first shot was cleared by the keeper at the edge of the box but Alex got on the end of the clearance and calmly finished from distance into an empty net, 2-1. Swalwell equalised shortly after before Kate put Aycliffe back into the lead, the assist again coming from Amber at right back, 3-2. Time for one more before half time, great piece of passing between the centre-mids, Annabelle playing a teasing ball that was crying out to be struck first time, up steps Jordan with a left footed strike from outside the 18-yard box which gave the keeper no chance, 4-2 HT.
Team talk was all about seeing the game out, with no need to score, it was all about not conceding. We started in the same formation for the first 15 minutes then changed to 5 at the back which played out perfectly. Aycliffe looked more comfortable in possession and we’re still creating chances. 62nd minute and Kate gets her second, from what looked like a nothing situation, Kate managed to pressure the Swalwell defence into a mistake, she then drove across the front of the 18-yard box before unleashing a shot into the top corner, 5-2. With both Kate and Alex on 2 goals each it was a tossup which would get their hat trick and today it was Alex’s turn, Annabelle whipped in a corner which wasn’t dealt with, Alex was quickest to react and stabbed the ball home from 4 yards, 6-2. With minutes left Aycliffe were solid and saw the game out comfortably, final score 6-2.
The team showed grit and determination, coming from behind to win comfortably, this wouldn’t have happened last season, but the togetherness of the team is great to see and everyone is fighting for every ball and heads don’t drop when things aren’t going our way. The Player of the Match is a massive catalyst of this, Lauren had only joined the team this season but brings an air of calmness to the game, she was communicating from the first minute to the last, always making herself available in the middle and helping us transition from defence to attack, also unlucky not to get on the score sheet, well done Lauren.
Under 23’s 4 v 2 Felling
An away day at Gateshead stadium, we started the game on the front foot and took the lead when Jack Mortimer blasted home from 40 yards out, it was quickly doubled when Richard Murray finished nicely from a corner. A great Mitchell Simons through ball set Jack away to make it 3, his hat-trick was soon completed when Jordan Wintersgill followed suit again, setting Jack away to make it 4-0. This was all inside the first 30 minutes the next 60 minutes we dropped right off, allowing Felling to find a goal just before half time and then a mix-up allowed them to grab a second. We missed a couple of chances and had a goal disallowed for hand ball. We saw the game out and picked up the 3 points we needed to keep us in the title chase.