Newton Aycliffe 2, Guisborough Town 0
Newton Aycliffe’s excellent league form continued as they climbed up to third in the Northern League first division with a win at home to second-placed Guisborough Town.
A dominant second-half display saw Peter Dixon’s side notch their fourth successive league victory thanks to goals by Matty Moffatt and John Campbell (pictured above) against a side unbeaten in their last eight.
The first half saw chances at both ends but neither side could convert those chances into goals. Aycliffe keeper James Winter was called into action after half an hour pulling off a good save, diving to his right, from a shot by Peter Bulmer.
Within five minutes it was Guisborough keeper Nick Liversedge performing the heroics with two saves within a minute, first from Moffat, then from Campbell.
As the half-time whistle approached Guisborough had another chance but Curtis Round’s shot was fired straight at Winter who saved comfortably.
Aycliffe came out of the blocks fastest in the second half and opened the scoring on 51 minutes. Moffat latched on to a through ball down the left. Taking it in his stride he slid the ball across the goal out of Liversedge’s reach and into the net.
Five minutes later Campbell made it 2-0. Winning the ball in midfield he ran on and fired past the keeper.
Guisborough came close to pulling a goal back just after the hour when Danny Earl found himself through on goal. However, the former Aycliffe striker’s shot went straight to Winter.
Aycliffe’s forwards continued to cause problems but without further reward with the best chance falling to Moffat in the last minute. Once again the visitors’ keeper came to the rescue.
Aycliffe hope to continue their good form at home to Seaham Red Star on Tuesday night (23rd Feb) followed by another home game against seventh-placed Dunston on Saturday (27th Feb).
Those games will be followed by a Durham Challenge Cup Semi-Final at South Shields on Tuesday 1 1st March.