FA Cup Starts This Weekend
Newton Aycliffe enter the Emirates FA Cup Preliminary Round this Saturday when they welcome Newcastle Blue Star to the Ashcourt Stadium. This is also the first time the two sides have met in any competition. Blue Star currently play in the EBAC Northern League Division One and have previously beaten North Shields this season in the FA Cup. Blue Star currently sit 19th in the table, after finishing fourth last season where they got to the playoff final, losing to Blyth Town.
Newton Aycliffe had a good run in the FA Cup last season where they got as far the Second Qualifying Round. Defeating Whitley Bay and Bamber Bridge, Aycliffe eventually lost to Warrington Rylands in a replay. With the draw heavily regionalised at this stage, other Preliminary fixtures such as West Auckland v Bridlington Town, Birtley Town v Shildon, Guisborough Town v Redcar Athletic and Bishop Auckland v Horden Community Welfare will be of interest.
Aycliffe opened their season with a 2-0 defeat away to Pontefract Collieries on Saturday. The Colliers opened the scoring in the 23rd minute with Bailey Thompson heading home a cross to the far post. Aycliffe worked hard to get the equaliser, but the home side settled the tie with two minutes remaining. Again, Thompson found the net, this time from a scramble in the box.
Fixtures
Saturday 16th August – Newcastle Blue Star (h) FA Cup
Tuesday 19th August – Blyth Spartans (a)
Saturday 23rd August – Grimsby Borough (h)
Monday 25th August – Bishop Auckland (a)
Photo by Yvonne Wood, new signing Nathan Nkunku in action against Pontefract Collieries.
