Consett 1, Newton Aycliffe 2
By Dave Strickland
Newton Aycliffe travelled to a blustery Consett and returned with a 2-1 win.
Aycliffe had the wind behind them in the first half. Consett centre forward Pearson hit the side netting on six minutes. Aycliffe went straight up the other end and Dean Thexton went close from a Johnson Ballan cross.
Carr sent a shot wide for Consett before Alex Barnes had a low shot saved by Hayes in the Consett goal, following a fine team move.
Hayes was kept busy as he made further good saves from Ballan and Ethan Wood.
The play continued to go end-to-end, and Alshabeeb brought a good save from Adam Pickford with a volley.
Aycliffe had the edge over the first 45 minutes, but went into the break 1-0 down when Carr whipped in a free kick and Liam McNamara headed into his own net right on half time.
Consett had the wind behind them in the second half and started well. Pickford made three good saves in the first ten minutes.
Aycliffe made a tactical substitution, with Ryan Redford coming on for Ballan, and they came back into the game when Thexton levelled the scores from a Richardson cross.
Man-of-the match Shaun Ryder curled a shot just wide on 73 minutes. Aycliffe couldn’t relax at the back though and Pickford made two further saves.
Aycliffe were bossing the game and Consett’s frustration got the better of them when Sloan was sent off for a bad tackle.
Gez Richardson headed just over for Aycliffe on 90 minutes. Then McNamara had a header saved by Hayes, who followed this up with a fine safe from Thexton.
Just when it seemed Aycliffe wouldn’t break through before the end, Thexton released Ryder, who rounded Hayes to score the winner in the 94th minute.
Aycliffe’s next match is away to West Auckland in the League Cup on Tuesday (September 10, 7.30pm). This is followed by an away tie at Jarrow in the FA Vase on Saturday (September 14, 3pm).
