Aycliffe go seven points clear at the top of Northern League

Newton Aycliffe went seven points clear at the top of the Northern League first division, winning their 10th game on the spin this week.

Friday night football at The SecuriCorp Stadium for the first time this season last week, which saw a good crowd of 265 and a very competitive game as Aycliffe made it nine league wins in a row.

The Newtonians moved seven points clear at the top of the Ebac Northern League with a 5-3 victory over Heaton Stannington.

Goals from Aycliffe’s Liam Jarvie (two), Marc Costello, Liam Adamson and Jack Clarkson trumping the visitor’s goals from Konnor Lamb, Joe Shepherd and Leighton Hopper.

Aycliffe opened the scoring on 11 minutes when Liam Jarvie tapped in a rebound off the post from an Eddie Thomas shot.

Despite being the better team for most of the first half Aycliffe didn’t add to their goal tally.

It was Heaton Stannington who struck in the dying minutes (45 plus 1), a goal from Konnor Lamb.

Five minutes into the second-half it was that man Liam Jarvie again. Latching onto an Eddie Thomas through ball, the visitors ‘keeper couldn’t hold the first shot and Liam Jarvie converted the rebound.

New signing, Joey Smith, was brought on for his debut in place of Eddie Thomas immediately after the goal.

Ten minutes later it was level again as Heaton Stannington’s Joe Shepherd was there to convert a flicked-on corner at the back post.

Twenty minutes in and Marc Costello contributes to Aycliffe’s total with his customary screamer. Marc is certainly getting the feel for this scoring job!

Three minutes later and not to be outdone in the screamer stakes, Liam Adamson gets in on the act with a 20-yarder.

The next ten minutes saw manager Brian Atkinson commit the remaining outfield subs to the fray.

Jack Clarkson for Liam Jarvie, Jack Naylor for Joe Ferguson and Charlie Dawson for Liam Adamson.

Yet, it was Heaton Stannington who struck next, closing the gap with a curler to the far corner from Leighton Hopper.

In added time, Jack Clarkson picked up a through ball and calmly took it on before stroking the ball into the bottom corner.

Aycliffe followed up the win with another victory at home on Tuesday night, beating Whitley Bay 3-1 10 wins on the trot.

Aycliffe’s next game is a trip to Heaton Stannington on Friday night, followed by a home game against Ashington on Saturday, March 4.