Newton Aycliffe 0, Sunderland RCA 1
By Dave Strickland
Newton Aycliffe put up a good show at home to in-form Sunderland RCA, but went down 1-0, conceding another injury time goal on Tuesday night.
RCA started slightly the better, with Preston bringing a save from Adam Pickford after 4 minutes.
Five minutes later, RCA were unlucky not to score when Larkin hit a shot which Pickford partly stopped, but the ball rolled goal-wards.
The officials deemed that the ball did not fully cross the line before it was cleared, and the Aycliffe fans breathed a sign of relief.
Vincent Gash and man-of-the match Shaun Hudson then both got shots away, but didn’t trouble Pocklington in the RCA goal.
The rest of the first half was entertaining as both sides went for a goal, but the defences held firm and the keepers weren’t tested further.
The pattern continued into the second half, with the teams trading shots. Moan had a chance for RCA but volleyed wide, and then Aycliffe’s Ethan Wood had a shot saved.
It was RCA’s turn to have some luck on 67 minutes when Shaun Hudson got free one-on-one and was brought down just outside the box by RCA keeper Pocklington.
This only resulted in a booking and it was the turn of the RCA fans to breathe a sign if relief. Aycliffe then failed to convert the resulting free kick.
Hudson then had a good chance to score, but just missed the target with Pockington beaten. Tom Gavin made an excellent last-ditch tackle on Charlton to keep Aycliffe in the game.
Then Lavery for RCA repeated the trick, with a tremendous blocking tackle on Kurt Matthews.
It looked like the game would head for a draw, but on 92 minutes Page hit the post with a header for RCA and he then lashed in the rebound to give RCA all three points.
Aycliffe’s next match is at home to Ashington on Saturday (March 2, 3pm) at Moore Lane Park.