Newton Aycliffe 2, Silsden 1
By Bob Wood
Newton Aycliffe made it through to the Second Qualifying Round of the Buildbase FA Vase with a win against Silsden AFC on Saturday.
The Northern Counties East side made their first ever trip to the Beaumont Landscapes Stadium but lost out 2-1 to Colin Stromsoy’s Aycliffe team.
Aycliffe had come from two hard fought local derbies which saw a win and a draw against West Auckland and Shildon over the Bank Holiday weekend.
By contrast Silsden had an 111day break since their last match.
Aycliffe’s match practice seemed to benefit them and on 24 minutes when Johnson Ballan dispossessed an opponent and whipped in a cross from the right which a defender headed past his own keeper.
The home side suffered a blow just before half-time when midfielder Marc Costello took a knock which caused him to be substituted.
Despite this setback Aycliffe started the second half positively and went 2-0 up after 47 minutes.
Shaun Ryder slid a perfect pass between two defenders to Dean Thexton. The centre forward calmly chipped the keeper to find the net.
The visitors pulled a goal back on 66 minutes leaving the home supporters to nervously wish for the final whistle as Aycliffe desperately defended their lead.
To make matters worse Aycliffe defender Mattie Lowrie was shown a red card in the last few minutes for a dangerous tackle.
But Aycliffe managed to hang on and earn the win which sees them travel to Jarrow FC on Saturday, September 14.
It’s going to be a busy month for Aycliffe with seven games scheduled, the next five of them away.
This week sees two tough games with visits to Stockton on Wednesday (September 4) and Consett on Saturday (September 7).
Stockton are currently second to Hebburn but have three games in hand and are the only team in the Ebac Northern League with a 100% record so far this season. Meanwhile, Consett sit third with 12 points from seven games.
Aycliffe are currently ninth in the table with 10 points from five games.