Whitby Town 0, Newton Aycliffe 1
By Ryan Livingston
Newton Aycliffe carried on their tremendous run in the Isuzu FA Trophy with a victory over NPL Premier stalwarts Whitby Town.
It was another game where Aycliffe were the underdogs on paper, but they won the game with style and the 1-0 score line didn’t truly reflect how dominant Aycliffe were throughout the game.
The win has set up a local derby at Stockton Town in the first round proper on Saturday, October 26.
Aycliffe did have an early scare when Joseph Gibson fired a wide shot early in the first half, Nathan Thomas tried to get the ball but couldn’t keep it in however.
Promising Aycliffe play shortly after saw Cole Kiernan fire wide from very close range. Whitby had another chance courtesy of Jake Charles, Charles attempted to maneuver the ball around Jim Pollard, but Pollard once again utilized great reflexes to keep the score at 0-0.
Dean Thexton, Cole Kiernan, Liam Jarvie and Cieran Jackson all had chances in the first half, but were either denied by Shane Bland (arguably Whitby’s only standout player) or had their shots blocked by Whitby defenders.
Aycliffe ended the first half the much brighter side, and both Jarvie and Jackson had good chances early in the second half.
Substitute Wayne Whitfield also had two chances, but both went high.
At this point, Aycliffe could have realistically been at least three goals up but Whitby stubbornly held on.
Whitby’s biggest chance came when Aaron Haswell’s cross was picked up by Stephen Walker, Walker however cockily went for a backheel shot, which turned out to be a very poor decision when Pollard made yet another brilliant save to deny the Whitby forward.
It seemed this was Whitby’s final onslaught, and now Aycliffe were once again in full possession.
Returning forward Liam Jarvie had been a nuisance for Whitby all game, and whilst Bland dealt with his initial shot whilst one on one, Jarvie was quick to poach the ball into the back of the net to send the travelling Aycliffe support and Aycliffe bench into rapture.
With the goal coming in the 84th minute, it was game set and match for Aycliffe, who had thoroughly outclassed Whitby for the game’s entirety, creating yet another memorable day that Aycliffe fans will look back on fondly for many years to come.
After a Durham Challenge Cup game at Hebburn Town on Tuesday night, Aycliffe return to league action at Moore Lane on Saturday, October 12, when Brighouse Town will be the visitors.
- The above picture, by Whitby Town photographer Brian Murfield, shows Jarvie celebrates his winning goal.