By Glen Robertson
Ben Wood redeemed himself following last week’s dismissal to set Newton Aycliffe on their way to a comfortable 2-0 victory over Marske United at Moore Lane Park.
The 20-year-old fired home from the spot-kick to give Aycliffe a sixth-minute lead and later on cleared off the line in the second-half as Allan Oliver’s side stretched their unbeaten run to 10 matches.
Dale Jardine scored the second, spectacularly lobbing Marske’s Graeme Willey from the edge of the area, to secure the three points.
Former Sunderland midfielder Wood was delighted to have made the headlines for the right reasons this week, following his red-card at Consett last Saturday.
“It was a bit of a shock getting sent-off last week, it’s not normally my game,” he said.
“But these things happen and you learn from them. I apologised to the lads and you move on.
“I’m pleased to have got on the scoresheet and to have helped out defensively. I didn’t know much about my clearance off the line, though. The sun was in my eyes and it just hit me! It wasn’t a great game to watch or play in, but we got the two goals and saw the game out.”
Wood started behind a front-two of Dan Mellanby and Dale Jardine, with Nathan Wilson dropping to the bench. James Oliver and Josh Gray came in for Paul Broom and Stuart Owen, while Warren Byrne made the matchday 16 for the first time since he broke his foot in November.
Aycliffe were looking to avenge heavy defeats to Marske in the last two meetings between the sides – a 4-0 defeat in the cup last season and a 3-1 loss earlier in October – and made the perfect start.
Stephen Gibson cut inside from his right wingback position, before being hauled down in the box. Referee Marc Edwards had little hesitation in pointing to the spot, and Wood sent Willey the wrong way from 12-yards.
Two-minutes later and Aycliffe doubled their lead. Mellanby expertly released strike-partner Jardine through on goal, and the former West Auckland forward superbly lobbed Willey from outside the area with his left-foot.
Aycliffe could have made it three after 10-minutes. Scott Pocklington’s goal-kick cleared the visitors’ defence, but Mellanby was unable to hook his effort on target from inside the penalty box.
Jardine should have doubled his tally on 26-minutes, when he was again released by Mellanby, but the forward shot straight at Willey when one-on-one with the ‘keeper.
The second-half was a largely forgettable affair, with Wood’s goal-line clearance from Leon Carling’s header the only memorable moment. The home-side were on the back-foot throughout the half, but Marske found Aycliffe’s back-line in solid form.
There was to be no collapse like there was at Consett last week, and Allan Oliver’s side saw out the game to move within one-point of fifth-placed Dunston.
Team: Pocklington; Oliver, Craddock, Close; Gibson (Broom 90+3), Tarling, Knox, Gray; Wood (Wilson 74); Jardine, Mellanby. Subs not used: Owen, Campbell, Byrne.
Attendance: 124.
