West Allotment Celtic 1, Newton Aycliffe 5
Aycliffe got back to winning ways with a 5-1 victory away to West Allotment.
A hat-trick from John Campbell ensured the points and gave Aycliffe a great preparation for next week’s big FA Vase game.
Both sides played passing football throughout, on a good surface. It was Aycliffe who took the lead, when after 7 minutes a back-header to the keeper was intercepted by John Campbell, who put it over goalie Chris Bannon.
They went further ahead on 16 minutes, when a Jordan Laidler corner was turned in at the front post by Campbell.
On 25 minutes, Aycliffe suffered a setback when Ben Wood was stretchered off with a serious cut to the leg; Zak Boagey came on in his place.
Celtic reduced the arrears on 33 minutes when Aycliffe conceded a free-kick 22 yard out, and Shaun Reay stepped up to thunder a shot past James Winter.
Aycliffe came out strongly after the break and on 50 minutes made it 3-1 when a good passing move was finished off by Jordan Laidler, Dennis Knight getting the assist.
Aycliffe made a double substitution on 64 minutes, with Close and Knight being replaced by Riley and Harrison.
It was Alan Harrison who scored next, converting a Paul Garthwaite pass for 1-4 on 75 minutes.
Aycliffe were well in the ascendency now, and made it 5-1 when Campbell scored his third and Aycliffe’s fifth, on 86 minutes, taking a pass from Michael Riley and finishing past Bannon.
That gave Campbell 22 league goals for the season, and put him back at the top of the Division One scoring chart.
This win takes Aycliffe to fifth in the Ebac Northern League Division One with 38 points from the 24 games played so far.
Aycliffe now move on to face Morpeth Town in the Buildbase FA Vase. The Highwaymen are the holders of the trophy having won it at Wembley in May. The third round proper tie will take place at Moore Lane Park on Saturday (December 3, kick off 3pm). Admission is £6 adults and £4 concessions.
