Newton Aycliffe 1, Consett 0
By Dave Strickland
Newton Aycliffe guaranteed Northern League division 1 football for next season with a fine home win against a strong Consett side.
Aycliffe were the better side in the first half. Consett came into the game in the second half, but didn’t trouble Aycliffe keeper Jack McLaren.
Aycliffe started well and had the first chance on four minutes, when Thibault Charmey got a shot away that just missed the target.
Centre half Liam Browne got a volley in on 20 minutes, that brought a good save from Consett keeper Hayes.
Consett were restricted to a couple of long range shots over the bar from centre forward Sweet.
On 32 minutes, Jordan Jewson crossed to Craig Hutchinson, who controlled the ball and got a shot away. Hayes saved, but only succeeded in knocking the ball back to Hutchinson and he made no mistake for 1-0.
Consett upped their tempo in the second half, and had more possession than in the first.
But they couldn’t create any clear-cut chances. Centre half Purewal headed over from a corner on 71 minutes, but otherwise McLaren had an afternoon off in the home goal.
Consett appealed for a penalty on 75 minutes, but the referee deemed that centre half Andrew Grant-Soulsby had got a touch on the ball as he tackled Mackay.
Aycliffe man-of-the-match Kurt Matthews was causing the Consett defenders some problems and he was unlucky with six minutes to go. He got in a good header that Hayes saved well, at the expense of a corner.
Aycliffe went on to secure the victory and three points. They now lie 14th in the table, with one game to play, at home to Sunderland RCA on Wednesday night.
