Newton Aycliffe 0, Willington 0 (Aycliffe win 5-3 on penalties)
By Dave Strickland
Newton Aycliffe progressed in the Durham Challenge Cup, after winning at home to Willington.
The score at full time was 0-0, with Aycliffe going through 5-3 on penalties.
Both sides tried to play good football in the windy conditions, but their finishing was poor.
Aycliffe had the first chance on 13 minutes, when Stuart Thompson went on a mazy run, but he hit his shot wide.
Shields then had a chance for Willington, but headed straight at keeper James Winter from a free kick. Thexton then had a similar chance, but again Winter wasn’t troubled.
Aycliffe fashioned a good move on 25 minutes which ended with Marc Costello crashing a shot goalwards, but a good block took it safely into the arms of Graham in the Willington goal.
There then followed a number of shots over the bar, as Tom Gavin and Connor Dunlavey for Aycliffe, and Thexton for Willington were unable to trouble the keepers.
Ian Ward had a chance near half-time, but put his header wide. Just after the restart, Connor Dunlavey got a shot away, but put it just wide.
Winter then made two good saves within the space of three minutes, as Willington applied a bit of pressure.
Aaron Brown hit a good low shot from distance near the hour mark, which Graham did well to turn away for a corner.
Graham was in action again five minutes later when he pulled off a great save from a Ward header.
Both sides pressed for a winner, but didn’t create any good chances, and the match went straight to penalties.
Aycliffe converted all five through Thibault Charmey, Dan Mitton, Alan Harrison, Daniel Kent and man-of-the-match Tom Gavin, with ‘keeper James Winter saving one.
