FA Cup football will return to Newton Aycliffe next week as the town’s club hope to embark on a fairytale run. The Newtonians welcomed the famous trophy to Moore Lane Park last August in what was their first-ever game in the competition. Unfortunately, after a media hullaballoo which brought the region’s TV cameras to the town again, Aycliffe were hammered 7-2 by Billingham Synthonia.
But Allan Oliver’s side will get a second bite of the cherry next week, when the 2012-13 season kicks off with the FA Cup. Aycliffe will host North-West Counties Division One side Holker Old Boys, from Barrow-in-Furness, in the extra preliminary round of the FA Cup with Budweiser next Saturday (11th August), 3pm kick-off.
The winner of the tie will travel to either Crook Town or Penrith, both from the Northern League, in the preliminary qualifying round. Holker’s best performance in the competition came in 2005-06 when they reached the second qualifying round, three rounds further than Aycliffe managed in their inaugural campaign last season.
Aycliffe will then begin their Northern League first division campaign on Saturday 18th August with a trip to Marske United, followed by a home tie against Hebburn on Wednesday 22nd August.
• Meanwhile, Gavin Barton bagged a second successive brace of goals as Newton Aycliffe won 3-2 at Richmond Town last Saturday. Aycliffe’s new striker scored two at home to Percy Main Amateurs, and followed it up with another two at Wearside League side Richmond.
Boss Oliver, who continues his pre-season preparations with a home friendly against Blue Square North side Harrogate Town this Friday night, is pleased with this summer’s progress up to now. “Pre-season is all about fitness,” said Oliver.
“It’s really about getting minutes under the belt, and from that point of view I’m happy with that, and delighted with the five new signings we’ve made up to now. It will take time for them to settle in, and I think we need to be mentally stronger as well, because we switched off at Richmond on Saturday. But pre-season is what it is and I’m fairly happy up to now. It’s great to see Gavin scoring goals, if we give him the service he’ll score, and I’m confident he’ll get us a lot of goals this season.”
Barton got two during a confident first half on Saturday, while winger Stuart Owen netted the Newtonians’ third.
After a host of changes the home side managed to claw themselves back into the game, but Aycliffe held on to win 3-2.
FIXTURES
Friday 3rd August: Harrogate Town (H), 7.30pm, friendly
Saturday 11th August: Holker Old Boys (H), 3pm, FA Cup
Saturday 18th August: Marske United (A), 3pm
Wednesday 22nd August: Hebburn Town (H), 7.30pm
Saturday 25th August: Norton & Stockton (A), 3pm
Monday 27th August: Bishop Auckland (H), 1pm
Saturday 1st September: Spennymoor Town (A), 3pm
