Back to back away games against Willington Queens in the league and cup this week for Newton Aycliffe Sports Club saw a close defeat in the league, followed by a win in the county cup. Tuesday night saw the two teams get together for the first time this season in the league and it was the away side that started the brighter looking to follow on from Sundays away win to Escomb.  On 10minutes a free kick awarded just outside of the area saw the first real chance at goal, but was hit well wide by Ryan Stonehouse. It was on the 20 minute mark that the deadlock was broken. Augusts Player of the Month, Jimmy Cameron receiving the ball inside the area, turned the defender on his inside and shot low into the bottom corner to make it 1-0 to the visitors. The lead lasted for 10 minutes as Willington broke the offside trap and slotted past stand in keeper Mark Craggs to make it 1-1 going into the break. The hosts started the second half much stronger making use of the width of the pitch and stretching the Aycliffe full backs and getting crosses into the box putting the away side under a lot of pressure.

The pressure paid off on the 70 minute mark when a corner failed to be cleared and was drilled home by the Queens centre forward to make it 2-1. The Sports Club created a number of chances, the best coming from Kyle Allen when he spun and got his shot off only to see it be deflected wide for a corner which the away side failed to benefit from. A tough, but even game, which saw Willington take the 3 points, in the first of these back to back encounters. MoM: Connor Hughes Sunday saw the two teams meet again, this time in the County Cup Preliminary Round.  With David Teder Pulling up during the warm up and Connor Hughes coming off injured after just 15 minutes, the Sports Club had to reshuffle and group accordingly very early on. The first real effort fell to early substitute Anthony Campbell who hit a free kick just over the bar on 18 minutes. Campbell again looked dangerous when a throw in from Jonathan Clegg found him in the box,  a quick turn and shot saw the keeper make a fairly simple save.

Then on 25 minutes, a penalty call was turned away after Campbell was fouled in the box much to the disappointment from the sideline. Another substitution was required shortly after as Darren Bosomworth (in for David Teder) pulled up with a groin strain which may see him out for a number of weeks.  The Sports Club were then awarded a penalty just after the half hour mark when Ollie Gell (on for Bosomworth) was fouled inside the area and Captain for the Day Ryan Stonehouse stepped up to finish from the spot to make it 1-0 to the visitors. Kyle Allen almost made it two just before the break but pulled his shot just wide. Aycliffe Sports Club maintained the pressure at the start of the 2nd half and it was Jimmy Cameron who made it 2-0 on 55 minutes, after the ball was switched from left to right and allowed him to close in on the keeper and slot home. The two goal advantage only lasted a few minutes as the home team managed to claw a goal back, an own goal by veteran Darren Griffiths as he slid into a tackle and deflected the ball into the stranded Mark Craggs, again deputising in goal.

This lifted the home side and on the 60 minute mark it was all level after the Sports Club defence failed to clear allowing Queens to drill home the equaliser. Anth Campbell took the game into his own hands and went on a mazy run with his cross just missing Kyle Allen, but the Centre Half for Willington deflected it into his own net to make it 3-2 to the Sports Club. Then with only 3 minutes remaining, Kyle Allen made sure of the result slotting home the 4th goal to see Aycliffe Sports Club secure a place in the next round of the cup – away to Coxhoe Red Lion. MOM: A n t h o n y Campbell Next Up: Bishop Auckland Snooker Club (Away – 10th Sept)