Tadcaster Albion 1, Newton Aycliffe 2
Emirates FA Cup Preliminary Round
By Joe Ramage
Jake Petitjean’s stoppage-time penalty ensured Newton Aycliffe moved into the first qualifying round of the Emirates FA Cup for just the second time in the club’s history with victory over Tadcaster Albion.
Petitjean kept his cool to convert from the spot after substitute Liam Jarvie was brought down by Romario Vieira to seal an impressive win over the Pitching In Northern Premier Division East side in torrential conditions at the Global Stadium.
Colin Stromsoy’s side took the lead in Yorkshire through midfielder Joe Ferguson four minutes before the break and it looked as though it might have been enough until Donald Chimallio scored a superb individual equaliser for the home side 16 minutes from time.
But as the hosts pressed for a winner themselves Aycliffe were able to spring a devastating counter-attack through Ethan Wood and Jarvie to win the penalty and keep their name in the hat of this season’s competition.
The Newtonians arrived on the back of a disappointing display at Seaham Red Star in midweek and Head Coach Stromsoy made three changes to his starting XI with Ferguson replacing the injured Marc Costello, Lewis Walton returning in place of Alexander Walker and Andrei Ardelean being handed his first start of the campaign in place of Jarvie.
And Aycliffe had to withstand some early pressure from their superior opponents as Joe Wilkinson’s 11th minute header was scrambled from the line following Corey Roper’s corner.
Marco Basic’s centre found Simon Russell who hit the outside of Pickford’s post seven minutes later before Aycliffe were able to give Harrison Davison-Hale something to think about when Ardelean fired a snapshot narrowly over the angle of post and bar from outside the area.
That brought Aycliffe to life and it was Ardelean casuing problems for the Tadcaster defence again moments later when he latched onto a fumbled corner from Davison-Hale before Ferguson drove into the area from the right and saw his effort deflected over the bar.
Sonni Coleman came close to breaking the deadlock 10 minutes before the interval when he met Ben Dibb-Fuller’s near-post cross from the right but steered the wrong side of Davison-Hale’s post.
But Stromsoy’s side didn’t have to wait much longer for their breakthrough as Ferguson picked up the ball midway inside the Tadcaster half and drove at the heart of the defence before shifting it onto his left foot and driving low underneath the keeper.
Junayo Cassius-Gill glanced a header just wide of the post from Kesi Omolokun’s cross from the right before Basic stung the palms of Pickford as Aycliffe took their lead into the break.
Roper angled a dangerous freekick at Pickford just before the hour mark which fell to Wilkinson but the defender could only find the side netting with his rebound.
Coleman almost extended Aycliffe’s advantage minutes later after Dibb-Fuller excellently collected Callum Munro’s ball over the top to free the striker with Coleman bringing a strong save out of Davison-Hale low to his right.
Roper dragged an effort wide of Pickford’s post from range before the home side found their equaliser via a superb strike from Chimallio.
The winger picked up a loose ball on the left and was able to cut inside onto his right before curling a stunning strike into the top corner beyond the outstretched Pickford.
The goal gave the Northern Premier Division East side a lift as they went in search of a winner with Edward Church turning in midfield to get a sight of goal before firing just over.
With time running out Church saw his header blocked with Chimallio then only able to find the side netting before Aycliffe were handed a golden opportunity to seal the tie in stoppage time.
Vieira’s freekick was easily cleared to Wood who sent a pinpoint ball over the top for the fresh legs of Jarvie to chase and he was able to cut inside and draw the foul from the retreating Vieira to leave referee Michael Trevethan little choice but to point to the spot.
With Coleman having been replaced by Ben Wood the responsibility was given to Petitjean who made no mistake in dispatching his spot kick low to the goalkeepers right.
And Aycliffe could have extended their lead as Dibb-Fuller was sent racing clear of the Tadcaster backline from the restart from Jarvie’s through ball but was denied by the foot of Davison-Hale.
But Stromsoy’s side were able to manage the remainder of stoppage time in the Tadcaster half to book their spot in the First Qualifying Round of the Emirates FA Cup for just the second time.
The draw for the next round will be made on Monday with the tie scheduled for Saturday, September 4.
Aycliffe’s forthcoming fixtures are:
Tuesday 24 August – Crook Town (home)
Saturday 28 August – Guisborough Town (away)
Tuesday 31 August – Ryhope CW (away)
Saturday 4 September – tbc FA Cup
Saturday 11 September – Campion (away) FA Vase
Above pic, by Yvonne Wood, shows Aycliffe man-of-the-match Ben Dibb-Fuller.
