Newton Aycliffe 4, Thornaby 0
By Dave Strickland
Newton Aycliffe put four goals past Thornaby without reply at the Beaumont Landscapes stadium.
Both sides played good football on a heavy pitch, but Aycliffe were the better side and ruthless in front of goal, with keeper Adam Pickford equal to all of Thornaby’s efforts.
Aycliffe got away to a blistering start, scoring three times in the first 15 minutes.
After three minutes, Liam McMamara headed in a corner from Ethan Wood. Four minutes later, captain Aaron Brown got on the end of a Lewis Walton cross to make 2-0.
On the quarter hour, leading scorer Dean Thexton collected a pass 25 yards out and hammered the ball into the top of the net for the third goal.
Thornaby then had a couple of half chances, but didn’t trouble Pickford in the Aycliffe goal.
Both sides exchanged further chances, but there were no more goals before half-time.
On 58 minutes, Liam Jarvie received the ball from a throw in, beat a defender and hit a low shot past Thornaby keeper Maxwell for 4-0.
Aycliffe had further chances from Jarvis, Wood and Thexton, but Maxwell kept those out.
Aycliffe were on top, and nine minutes from time Walton struck the bar with a free kick. Both sides had chances near the end, but the game ended 4-0.
Aycliffe remain in sixth position, with games in hand. Their next match is home to Stockton on Tuesday (December 17, 7.45pm) in the Durham Challenge Cup, followed by a home game against Ashington on Saturday (December 21, 3pm).