Injury-hit Newton Aycliffe battled to the end but were beaten by Northern League heavyweights Whitley Bay.
After Ash Davis had given the hosts a 12th-minute lead, Aycliffe lost centre-back John Close and striker Danny Earl to injury, leaving the team without a recognised forward.
Winger Fred Woodhouse led the line well and scored a late goal for the Newtonians, but by then Whitley Bay had gone further ahead through James Novak’s free-kick and Paul Chow’s clinical finish.
The Newtonians were missing Mark Peck through suspension and Dan Mellanby and Kris Hughes through injury. And they fell behind after just 12 minutes.
Bay worked a two-versus-one down their left and Chow managed to get to the byline and pick out the one-rushing Davis who fired into the top corner.
Aycliffe were then hit with a double-blow as Close limped off with a quad injury while Earl had to be carried off with an ankle problem.
The reshuffled Aycliffe managed to create an opening just before the half-hour mark as David Winskill and Martin Young linked up well to allow Sean Tarling a shot on goal, but host goalkeeper Kyle Hayes pulled off a great save, though a late linesman’s flag would’ve ruled out any goal.
Davis and Chow went close for the Seahorses before half-time, but Aycliffe appeared to have reached the break on level terms.
However, the hosts doubled their lead deep into first-half stoppage-time. A free-kickwas conceded on the edge of the area and Novak’s effort went through the wall and underneath Scott Pocklington’s grasp.
Pocklington saved well from Brad Brooking in the second-half, parrying away the defender’s curling effort.
But the keeper could do nothing about Bay’s third, as Chow was sent through, went round Pocklington and slotted into the empty net.
Aycliffe rallied after that and Woodhouse pulled a goal back with 20 minutes left with a clever lob from Winskill’s right-wing cross.
But it was too little too late as Aycliffe were unable to stage another dramatic fightback.
Aycliffe: Pocklington, Oliver, Owen, Craddock, Close, Tarling, Lambert, Hinchley, Young, Earl, Woodhouse. Subs used: Broom, Winskill, Wood. Unused: Butterworth.
