Newton Aycliffe 1, Whitley Bay 3
For the second time in a week Aycliffe lost a game in which they should have gained at least a draw.
This time it was The Bay who profited, taking the points after three defensive mistakes were all converted in a 1-3 win.
Aycliffe started the brighter. Captain Jamie Owens had a chance on two minutes, but put a shot over the bar.
On 11 minutes Ben Trotter also put a shot over the bar. A minute later, Aaron Brown made a good overlapping run down the right and put in a great cross, but Owens was unable to get his header on target.
Josh Gray then made a good run, but Ben Wood miss-hit his shot. Then completely against the run of play Whitley Bay got two goals in three minutes. Both were gifts. For the first, the defence left centre forward Andrew Robinson completely unmarked, and he finished low into the corner of the net.
Two minutes later, Aycliffe conceded a penalty when despite having two chances to clear the ball, they failed to clear their area.
This ultimately resulted in a penalty which Callum Patton converted.
On 32 minutes, following a good team move, Gray hit a free-kick well over the bar.
Aycliffe continued to press, and were thwarted by a great block by the Bay defence just before the break.
Aycliffe were stronger after half-time, and yet again The Bay kept several shots out during a goalmouth scramble on minute in.
Whitley Bay then came back into it , and Aycliffe were grateful to keeper Phil Pentony for a great double save.
On 78 minutes Jack Oliver had a shot, but once again the shot was put over the bar.
Just as the fans were giving up hope Aycliffe got an equaliser. Owens played in Ben Trotter who rounded the keeper for 1-2.
Aycliffe pressed forward for an equaliser and were caught out three minutes into injury-time when another defensive lapse gifted Charney with a goal.
Aycliffe return to league action with two away games where they will face former players.
They visit striker John Campbell’s new club, Newcastle Benfield, on Saturday (March 4) and West
Auckland the following week where Brian Close and Zak Boagey now play.
