By Glen Robertson
Newton Aycliffe finish their Northern League first division campaign by welcoming old foes Guisborough to Moore Lane Park.
This will be the eighth meeting between the sides – only Marske have faced the Royal Blues on more occasions – and Allan Oliver’s men are aiming for their third win as they look to end the season in style.
It took five attempts for the Newtonians to pick up a first victory against the Priorymen. Stuart Owen struck the only goal of the game at the King George V Ground in the first Division One meeting.
Aycliffe followed that one up with a brilliant 4-2 win at Moore Lane Park. Guisborough raced into a 2-0 lead but a Warren Byrne hat-trick and a Dan Mellanby goal secured victory.
But Guisborough – who had won two and drawn two of the four meetings in the second division – gained revenge this season with a thumping 5-1 win in November.
The match will mark the end of Aycliffe’s second season in the top flight of the Northern League. They secured safety earlier in the week with a 4-0 thrashing of Norton & Stockton but saw their four-match winning run ended by Whitley Bay in a thrilling Thursday night fixture.
Now the club hope to celebrate the end of a difficult year with a strong showing against the Priorymen, while cheered on by a large crowd.
Tickets are £5 for adults and £3 for concessions, with under-16s free if accompanied by an adult.
A win could take Aycliffe up to 16th, but most clubs will have further games to play after this weekend.
