By Martin Walker
Aycliffe slipped to eighth in the Northern League first division with a third successive defeat at Penrith.
After back-to-back defeats against South Shields and Dunston last week, Allan Oliver’s side slumped to another disappointing loss across the Pennines.
Steven Ainsworth’s 87th-minute free-kick clinched three precious points for the third-bottom Blues – and Bedlington Terriers leapfrogged the Newtonians with an impressive 2-1 win at Whitley Bay.
Aycliffe could have had the game sewn up in the first half, but failed to convert their possession and chances into goals.
It took the game a while to get going, though, and it wasn’t until just before the half-hour mark when Dan Mellanby created a golden opportunity for Warren Byrne, playing a killer slide-rule ball in behind the napping centre-backs, but the normally prolific forward hesitated before fluffing his shot.
The visitors pressed again two minutes later when Dale Jardine squared to Stuart Owen, who played a quick ball to Mellanby and he passed on to Paul Broom in a smart, quick move but the winger couldn’t get a shot off.
Byrne created a brilliant chance for himself after 36 minutes, nut-megging defender Tim Clasper before his shot was deflected over.
Owen’s strong shot just inside the area two minutes later was parried away by Penrith keeper James Holland.
And that was about Aycliffe’s lot. Their first-half dominance didn’t pay off, and they deteriorated after the break as the struggling home side got on top.
Daniel Jones shot just wide in the 50th minute, and Curtis Wood’s effort three minutes was also just wide.
Blues striker Martin Coleman went close shortly before the hour before Aycliffe had a half-hearted appeal for a penalty turned down when Clasper seemed to up-end Mellanby inside the box, but the ref was having none of it.
The game was petering out before Penrith got the winner three minutes from time.
Aycliffe conceded a needless free-kick about 25 yards from goal, and Ainsworth’s set-piece was spilled to gift the Cumbrian side victory.
Aycliffe: Spence, Gibson, Gray, Craddock, Close, Wilson, Broom, Jardine (McMullen, 73), Byrne, Mellanby, Owen (Campbell, 82). Unused: Black.
