Newton Aycliffe were knocked out of the Brooks Mileson League Cup by a dramatic late-winner.
Team Northumbria edged past the Royal Blues for the second time in three seasons as Peter Watling scored the only goal of the game in stoppage time.
Allan Oliver’s men were missing John Close, Dan Molyneux, Fred Woodhouse and Scott Oldfield through injury while Dan Mellanby was unavailable.
Despite this, Aycliffe were the better side in the first period with Jamie Owens going close twice – hooking an effort just wide before striking the foot of the post from an acute angle.
Gareth Young was called into action just once, parrying away Dave Colvin’s long-range shot, as the game remained deadlocked at the interval.
A record-low Moore Lane Park crowd of just 66 looked set for extra-time as the two teams cancelled each other out in the second 45 minutes.
But in the fourth minute of additional time Dan Riley’s corner found its way to Louis Storey, whose driven centre across the face of goal was steered in from close range by Watling.
It leaves the Durham Challenge Cup as the Newtonians’ only hope of cup silverware this season.
They play Whickham in the first round, having edged past Tow Law Town in a nine-goal thriller in the qualifying round.
