Newton Aycliffe returned to winning ways with a home 3-1 win at the Beaumont Landscapes Stadium last Tuesday, taking them back into second place in the table.
However, they had to come back from an early setback when they conceded after only two minutes. A cross to the far post evaded Lewis Walton and Bird scrambled it into the corner of the net. Ryhope could have gone two ahead six minutes later when Rae broke clear but Adam Pickford made a good save. They were to regret the miss, as Aycliffe got going and dominated after that. Kev Carr shot wide from a good position and Walton had a strong shot saved by ex-Aycliffe goalkeeper James Winter. Aycliffe then put together some flowing moves on the heavy pitch. Liam Jarvie had the ball in the net on forty minutes but it was called offside. He wasn’t to be denied for long, as right on half time he turned in a low cross from Carr for the equaliser.
Aycliffe produced a stunning team move within a minute of the re-start. It ended with man-of-the-match Jarvie getting on the end of another low cross for 2-1. Shaun Ryder and Dean Thexton both had good efforts as Aycliffe pressed forward. Substitute Johnson Ballan ensured that Aycliffe got all three points as he beat his marker and rifled it past Winter for Aycliffe’s third goal in the 90th minute. This was Aycliffe’s 50th goal of the season in only 23 matches.
The wet weather put paid to any hopes of Saturday’s game at home to Guisborough Town going ahead. The postponement denied Aycliffe fans their first sight of Col Stromsoy’s latest signing. Centre-back Ryan Coles joined the squad last week. The 24 year old Aycliffe lad  has signed from Shildon Railway.
Aycliffe now start a series of away games with a trip on Saturday 23 November to last week’s opponents, Ryhope CW. Their next scheduled home game is Saturday 14 December.
Photo: new signing Ryan Coles.