Newton Aycliffe 2, Billingham Town 3
By Dave Strickland
Newton Aycliffe lost 3-2 to Billingham Town at the Beaumont Landscapes Stadium on Saturday, slipping to seventh in the Northern League first division table.
Centre forward and leading goalscorer Dean Thexton had moved to Shildon and so Adam Burnicle had been signed from West Auckland to replace him.
His debut got off to a great start when he scored after only seven minutes. A corner was put in by Lewis Walton and Burnicle knocked it in from close range.
Billingham matched Aycliffe in the play and levelled after 16 minutes. Ex-Aycliffe player Craig Hutchinson wriggled through the defence and found the corner of the net past Adam Pickford.
Aycliffe’s Jake Petitjean brought out a good save from Billingham keeper Young.
Then on the half hour Burnicle got his and Aycliffe’s second goal when he smashed home a penalty.
Billingham were still well in the game though and equalised in first half injury time when Hutchinson hit a great strike from distance.
Aycliffe were unlucky on the hour when Liam Jarvie got round the side of Billingham’s defence and crossed to Burnicle, who was denied a debut hat trick when his shot hit the bar and came out.
Aycliffe had the better of the play but couldn’t trouble Young in the Billingham goal.
Billingham took the points three minutes from time when a low shot by Flounders found the corner of the net.
Aycliffe’s next game is away to Sunderland RCA on Saturday (January 18, 3pm).
