Ashington 2, Newton Aycliffe 4
By Ryan Livingston
Newton Aycliffe returned from an enforced weather break to make it four consecutive wins in four games scoring four goals in each game.
Brian Atkinson’s side were very good value in this away encounter in Ashington, with both Liam Adamson and Cole Kiernan scoring a brace in a game which could have easily ended up a much bigger defeat for Ashington.
In a game that was dominated by cutting winds it was the home side that found the back of the net first, Wilson Kneeshaw’s pacey run drew offside appeals from Aycliffe, but Kneeshaw kept going and managed to tee it up for Connor Thomson to tap in from close range in the 30th minute.
The game had a very end to end flow throughout the first half. Liam Adamson was once again grafting hard for Aycliffe and when Cole Kiernan passed him the ball on the edge of the box, Adamson wasted no time in rushing forwards and firing the perfect shot into the top corner to make it 1-1 within a minute of Ashington’s initial goal.
Towards the end of the first half Aycliffe began ramping up the pressure, and it was the away side who went into the second half with all the momentum.
Adamson found Jake Petitjean who outran Ashington’s defence and weighted a perfect pass to Cole Kiernan, leading to his brace and making it 2-1 to Aycliffe in the 51st minute.
Sublimely executed team goals are now becoming a frequent theme with Aycliffe.
This time Toby Pascoe used his pace to find Kiernan in a crowded box, who reacted fast to smoothly fire the ball into the net to make it 3-1 in the 56th minute to put the result beyond doubt.
Within a minute of that goal Adamson was incredibly unlucky not to score again, as his curling shot was deflected on the goal line by Ashington’s Karl Ross.
The game was put to bed in the 85th minute with yet another example of brilliant link up play.
Adamson finding substitute Cieran Jackson who ran well with the ball and then crossed back to Adamson who finished from a very tight angle to make it 4-1.
Nathan Fisher made some great saves throughout, and is once again unlucky to not obtain a clean sheet. The second Ashington goal was in the final minute, Morgan Dart’s shot would be parried by Fisher, which Wilson Kneeshaw took advantage of to make it 4-2.
Aycliffe have two home games over the holiday period. North Ferriby will be the visitors on Saturday (December 23) while local rivals and table toppers Stockton Town will travel to Moore Lane on Saturday, December 30.
Here’s hoping Newtonians turn out in force to support our town’s team for these two important fixtures.
The above picture, by Yvonne Wood, shows Liam Adamson on the attack against Ashington.
