Chester-le-Street 0, Newton Aycliffe 4
By Bob Wood
Newton Aycliffe progressed into the second round of the FA Vase with a convincing 4-0 win at high-flying second division side Chester-le-Street.
Aycliffe were never troubled and progressed into the second round. This was despite missing a couple of regulars. But man-of-the-match Ashley Coffey had an excellent game as a stand-in central defender.
Aycliffe were on the attack from the start and took the lead after just 10 minutes when Dennis Knight was brought down in the box and scored from the resulting spot kick.
Just before the half hour Alan Harrison made it 2-0 with a header after Matty Moffat won the ball and crossed from the right wing.
Within two minutes it was Moffat himself scoring, firing home a strong shot from close range after a flick on from Knight.
Aycliffe scored their fourth within a minute of the second half starting, with Moffat heading in his second of the game.
Chester-le-Street came close to pulling a goal back on 53 minutes but saw a 25-yard free-kick tipped over the bar by James Winter.
Moffat almost got his hat-trick in the closing minutes when he was played through but saw his shot well saved.
Aycliffe kept pressing until the final whistle and skipper Paul Gartwaite’s long range shot hit the crossbar in added time.
Aycliffe have now lost only once in their last 14 games – which was an FA Cup replay at North Ferriby, who play three divisions higher than Aycliffe.
They now have games away at Morpeth and West Auckland in the league and Penrith in the League Cup.
They return to Moore Lane Park on Tuesday 17th November when Ashington will be the visitors for an Ebac Northern League Division One fixture.
