Newton Aycliffe’s Northern League club got off to the best possible New Year at the weekend.
Peter Dixon’s side halted a five-match winless run with a thumping 3-0 victory at home to fellow strugglers West Allotment Celtic on Saturday.
The win lifted Aycliffe back up to 17th in the first division table, three points above the relegation zone.
Dennis Knight gave the Newtonians an early lead before Stuart Banks doubled it ahead of the half-time break.
Then Banks grabbed his second of the game with a late penalty as Aycliffe cruised to victory.
The timely boost came off the back of Aycliffe’s disappointing derby defeat at Bishop Auckland a week earlier.
And an action-packed January – with six games in 19 days, including two crunch derbies – could well determine Aycliffe’s season.
NAFC FIXTURES
Tues 6th Jan: West Auckland (A) 7.30pm
Sat 10th Jan: Shildon (A) 3pm
Tues 13th Jan: Ashington (H) 7.30pm
Sat 17th Jan: Bedlington Terriers (A) 3pm
Tues 20th Jan: Marske Utd (H) League Cup R3, 7.30pm
Sat 24th Jan: Marske Utd (A) 3pm
