Durham Challeng Cup: Tow Law Town 4, Newton Aycliffe 5
By Glen Robertson
Newton Aycliffe edged a nine-goal thriller to knock Tow Law Town out of the Durham Challenge Cup in the preliminary round but the win was overshadowed by a bad injury sustained by Dan Molyneux.
The Newtonians keeper was knocked unconscious as Martin Young’s own-goal gave the Lawyers the early advantage, which led to a 36-minute delay as an ambulance took Molyneux to a hospital for a check-up.
Teenager Ryan Farley took possession of the gloves and was soon celebrating an equaliser as Young atoned for his earlier mishap by slotting in calmly following Dan Mellanby’s through-ball.
But the home side went ahead when Dan Wilson’s 20-yard drive flew into Farley’s net.
Young then added another to his tally on the half-hour mark, volleying in Stuart Owen’s corner at the back post.
The goals kept flowing as Danny Lambert nodded into an empty net after Tow Law keeper Stephen Robinson failed to hold on to Christian Selby’s cross.
Jamie Owens made it 4-2 three minutes before the interval with a superb individual effort, slaloming his way through the hosts’ defence before delicately lifting the ball past Robinson.
And he added another superb strike three minutes after half-time when he turned the defender on the edge of the area before arrowing in a left-footed drive.
Aycliffe appeared to be coasting towards the first round of the competition but the hosts pulled two goals back to set up a nervy finale.
In the 69th minute Michael Hall spun James Oliver in the area before rifling a shot into the top corner before Steven Turnbull’s deflected effort two minutes later made it 5-4.
But Aycliffe held on to the win, with Farley making a terrific stop from Turnbull’s close-range header in stoppage time.
Allan Oliver’s men will now host Whickham or Esh Winning in the first round in November.