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.
Fresh from their winter break, the experts get ready to go again…
Scores
Glen Robertson – 13
Paul McGeary – 10
Dan Lewis – 8
This week, the trio aim to get more points on the board by overseeing the visit of Sunderland RCA.
Paul McGeary
2013. One game, one win. That’ll do for me. We’re in form! In truth, we’ve not be that bad lately, barring Penrith at home, and that gives me a great feeling as we head into the New Year. Sean Reay has looked sharp since joining and Freddie’s back among the goals. Gibbo is injured but he’s the only doubt, while Peck and the skipper miss out through suspension, but neither played in the win at Consett anyway. RCA have lost our old boy Gavin Barton, and have had something of a revolving door themselves of late, and can’t seem to kick on when they get a couple of results. Last week they were held by Guisborough, and I think our lot will fancy our chances, especially as we battered them 2-2 at their place in October. Can we keep a clean sheet? I don’t think so, but I think we have enough at the other end to grab the points.
Newton Aycliffe 2-1 Sunderland RCA
Dan Lewis
Last Saturdays performance at Consett was certainly more in the workmanlike than spectacular mould. However, the result was all important, and I will quite happily watch us accrue points in that fashion to keep us in the league. The injury to Gibbo is a big blow, and makes Peck’s suspension a little more untimely. However on the other side of the coin, Sean Reay showed some real glimpses of class in the second half, and when you add him to Danny Earl and Freddie Woodhouse, we now have a real threat going forward. I thought the game at RCA earlier in the season was a catalyst towards getting our season going. We were much the better side, and the late draw we got was the least we deserved, and displayed the battling qualities that have been evident ever since. I go into this game in a fairly confident mood that the boys will follow up last weeks win with a first home win of the year.
Newton Aycliffe 3-1 Sunderland RCA
Glen Robertson
Hate to be the pessimistic, miserable one but someone has to do it. RCA are the ‘Stoke’ of the division, but they play much less football. Everything is pumped forward. Set-pieces are their main threat. The midfielders will kick anything that moves. Against Aycliffe earlier on this season they scored from a long ball and a set piece and were well set for a 2-1 win. But with 10 minutes left they changed their system to a 5-4-1, wrongly assuming it would prevent Aycliffe scoring. Instead, it invited on pressure and the Royal Blues ran riot and could have had five or six. RCA won’t make that mistake again. They are much stronger away from home too – losing only two of 10 games and only Spennymoor and Shildon have conceded less goals on their travels. It’s got ‘draw’ written all over it.
Newton Aycliffe 1-1 Sunderland RCA
