Saturday 13th August
Newton Aycliffe 6 Tow Law Town 1
Newton Aycliffe hit their visitors for six on a scorching hot day at the SecuriCorp Stadium. Tow Law came into the game on the back of an excellent FA Cup replay win midweek. However, Aycliffe dominated the game with Jamie Owens (2), Oscar Taylor, Callum Munro, Ethan Wood & substitute Liam Jarvie all finding the net.
The result moves Aycliffe up to third place in the Ebac Northern League Division One with 10 points. The two teams ahead of them, Ashington and Whickham, still have 100% records after four games.
The first twenty minutes were fairly even in a game played in hot conditions. The teams and referee had agreed in advance to the unusual step of taking water breaks at 15 and 30 minutes.
The first goal came after 23 minutes following good play between Jamie Owens and Marc Costello the ball fell to Oscar Taylor who fired home from close range.
Three minutes later Owens got on the scoresheet, meeting a fine cross from Ethan Wood and heading past the keeper. The third goal was another header, this time a free kick from the left touchline was met by Callum Munro at the back post.
Aycliffe made it 4-0 at half-time thanks to another Jamie Owens goal. New signing Anthony Callaghan drove forward and exchanged passes with Costello before the ball was passed to the Aycliffe number 10 who curled a shot inside the post from outside the box.
The second half started with Tow Law pulling a goal back with Nick Marley evading the home defence and firing a strike from the edge of the box. However, the visitors were not able to maintain the momentum and once again Aycliffe began to press.
The home side scored their fifth with a goal from Man of the Match Ethan Wood who found space and struck for goal from 20 yards out, with the keeper well beaten. The final goal came in the closing stages of the game with substitute Liam Jarvie put through and managing to slot the ball past the advancing keeper.
The 6-1 scoreline was fully deserved for an Aycliffe side who seem to be gaining in confidence.
Another home match beckons on Tuesday (16 August) when Crook Town visit Moore Lane. Aycliffe then go on the road next week to Thornaby (Saturday 20 August) and Pickering Town (Tuesday 23 August) before returning to the SecuriCorp Stadium for the FA Vase tie against Esh Winning on Saturday 27 August.
Photo by Yvonne Wood, Callum Munro heads home.