Newton Aycliffe face arguably the biggest game in the club’s history this weekend, as they host local rivals Spennymoor Town in the world famous FA Cup.
Allan Oliver’s high-flying Royal Blues welcome the reigning FA Vase winners to Moore Lane Park on Saturday August 31st, with kick off at 3pm.
The winner will progress to the first qualifying round of the oldest knockout competition in football – a stage the Newtonians have never reached.
A first FA Cup victory was achieved in the extra preliminary round, when Aycliffe putt five past Darlington Railway Athletic. But they face a much tougher test to record back-to-back successes against Spennymoor, the side who have won three of the last four Northern League titles.
Moors’ expensively-assembled side will start as heavy favourites on Saturday – they have never lost to the Newtonians in any competition – but FA Cup history is littered with upsets.
Aycliffe warmed up for the contest with a hard-fought goalless draw against Bishop Auckland on Bank Holiday Monday. Fred Woodhouse was sent-off just before the hour mark, but heroic displays from John Close and Stephen Salvin kept the Two Blues out for the remaining 30 minutes to earn a point that moved Aycliffe up to seventh in Division One.
The duo will have to be at their best again to repel Moors, while Oliver will hope strikers Danny Earl and Jamie Owens continue their blistering start to the campaign and fire Aycliffe into the hat for the next round. Admission is £6 for adults and £4 for conessions, with under-12s FREE.