Our panel of three Aycliffe ‘experts’ give their predictions for this weekend’s game…
One point is award for the correct result (win, lose or draw), and three points are awarded for the correct scoreline.
Last time, Paul made a late title surge by correctly predicting the Shildon scoreline..
Scores on the Doors:
Glen Robertson – 19
Paul McGeary – 15
Dan Lewis – 11
This week, our experts cast their eye over the home midweek double-bill with Norton and Whitley Bay, before returning next week for the final game with Guisborough Town.
Paul McGeary
In November we comfortably saw Norton off on their own patch with a resounding 5-0 victory, which saw the Stockton-trio of Freddie and the two Dan’s share the goals against their local rivals. Since then Norton have barely registered a point, though they did beat Bedlington 1-0 in midweek to temporarily reprieve themselves from the drop. Norton could well be down by the time they come to HQ on Monday, but regardless of that fact, Allan’s marches will beat them to all but confirm top flight football next season.
Newton Aycliffe 4-0 Norton
Hopefully by Thursday it will be mathematically confirmed that the Newtonians are safe from the drop but there’ll be no party atmosphere as Whitley Bay come to town and pride remains at stake. Aycliffe will be hoping to gloss an otherwise frustrating campaign, and a finish in the top-14 is not yet out of their reach, despite never being higher than 18th all season. Whitley Bay are still going for the top four themselves and aren’t a side who ‘go on their holidays’ early and will remain a huge threat with Chow, Fairley, Robinson et al. Nevertheless, our lads have that winning habit and though we may not have enough to beat Bay after a tiring two weeks, I can’t see us losing it.
Newton Aycliffe 1-1 Whitley Bay
Dan Lewis
Norton have been in a pretty lousy run of form recently, certainly until they unexpectedly beat Bedlington in midweek and the game against them away earlier in the season was one of our best performances of the season. That said however, our record against other teams in the bottom three has been pretty appalling! However after the week we have had, recording home victories against Shildon, Bedlington and then Ashington, I think it would be a brave man to back against Aycliffe this week particularly as the win would in my opinion more or less guarantee top flight football for next season.
Newton Aycliffe 3- 1 Norton
Thursday night will see Whitley Bay to come to town, and I think it will offer a stern examination of the team. One hopes that results over the weekend and in the early part of next week will have made us safe and as such remove the pressure of the game slightly. In the same way, Bay cannot finish in the top two, although the history of their club suggests they won’t stop fighting for results until the last ball of the season is kicked. If I am right, and the results have us safe before kick off, I think the physical and emotional strain of the last two weeks may catch up with the lads, and this may be too big of an ask.
Newton Aycliffe 1- 2 Whitley Bay
Glen Robertson
If there is one thing that’s certain at Aycliffe, it is that there are no easy games. After the performances against Spennymoor, Shildon, Bedlington and Ashington – all top quality Northern League teams – the visit of Norton should be easy. They’re all-but relegated and they were thrashed by Allan’s men at their ground. But it wouldn’t be Aycliffe’s style to pull off a routine home win here. A win would almost secure safety, and I think we’ll get it, but it won’t be easy. Andy Campbell – who scored two goals against Manchester United, you know – will not want his charges to go down with a whimper and they’ll view this game as one they can get something from.
Newton Aycliffe 3-2 Norton
If Aycliffe do struggle against Norton, you can guarantee they’ll be much better against Whitley Bay. For some reason we always do better against the bigger teams and this will be another case of that. The focus the lads tend to play with against the ‘big boys’ always ensures they put in a good showing and if the Bay turn up at anything other than 100 per cent then they will be turned over. Hopefully they’ll still be tired from their game against Sunderland RCA on the Tuesday and Aycliffe’s one day longer of rest will show.
Newton Aycliffe 2-1 Whitley Bay
