Newton Aycliffe FC broke their duck for the season at the AuxAudio.co.uk Stadium, as they smashed Crook for five on Saturday.
In the process of registering their first home win of the season, they also staged something of a goal of the season competition in the second half.
Boss Aidy Webster again made several changes as he looked for a winning combination. And having won at Crook two weeks previously, the game had something of a must-win feel about it, even with the season so young.
And Aycliffe made the perfect start. Just 3 minutes were on the clock when Paul Broom robbed the Crook defence before slipping the ball to Tom Atkinson to finish right footed.
Just 4 minutes later and it looked as though Aycliffe were going to cruise to victory. Something of a collector’s item from Captain Stuart Owen, as he rifled home a right footed volley!
Atkinson missed a glorious chance for a third, as he headed wide unchallenged from Webster’s cross, before Aycliffe were forced into a change with Martin Young limping off with a calf injury.
Crook moved more into the game as the half progressed. On 25 they were offered a lifeline, as the lively Pinkney powered home from the edge of the box.
On 38 the linesman ruled Thexton off-side as he slid the ball home, but then with just 3 minutes until half time they were level.
A miss-placed Langthorne pass was seized upon by Brazauskas, who calmly placed the ball under Johnson.
Into the second half and it was the visitors who pressed for the lead. Pinkney had two shots narrowly wide of the post, whilst strong claims for a penalty as Johnson took out the forward were turned away.
Broom had two good chances for the hosts, who saw Lowes and Boagey replace Webster and Atkinson.
And with 11 minutes remaining, Scott Oldfield scored a beauty. Running forward from the left back position, he moved to the edge of the box before arrowing a left footed shot into the top corner.
Five minutes later and the game was effectively over as a contest. This time it was Broom with the high class goal, cutting in from the right wing before dinking the ball over the advancing Graham in the Crook goal.
But as the game moved into injury time, new signing Zac Boagey scored the goal of many a game. Surrounded by several defenders, he broke clear before lifting the ball over the keeper and into the net. It was a goal of the highest quality, as be-fits a player with recent Football League experience.
With Newcastle Benfield facing an FA Cup replay on Wednesday, Aycliffe’s scheduled game there has been postponed; meaning the next action for the Royal Blues sees them take to the road as they look to progress in the FA Vase.
The Club have arranged a bus to take supporters to Daisy Hill, near Manchester. Seats can be reserved by emailing [email protected]. The cost of return travel is just £10.
Aycliffe: Johnson, Storey, Oldfield, Langthorne, Clough, Hinchley, Young, Webster, Broom, Atkinson, Owen. Substitutes: Lowes, Farley, Boagey, Butterworth, Williamson.