Newton Aycliffe 3, Guisborough 1
By Dave Strickland
Newton Aycliffe ended the 2018-19 season with a 3-1 win at home to Guisborough Town.
The win meant that Aycliffe finished the season in 12th place in the Northern League Division One table
Dunston were champions and Penrith finished bottom.
Aycliffe got off to a great start when Gez Richardson picked up the ball in midfield and surged forward, beating four players and then laying the ball off to Kurt Matthews, who hit a low shot past Guisborough keeper Nixon for 1-0 with only half a minute on the clock.
Aycliffe had a bit of luck in the fourth minute when a shot by Hume hit the post and came back out.
However, they went further ahead after 15 minutes when Ali Alshabeeb hit a strong volley which Nixon could only turn into the net for 2-0.
Aycliffe got on top and were playing good football against the strong wind. They made it 3-0 on 29 minutes when Vinny Gash converted a penalty after Richardson had been barged over.
Goalkeeper Adam Pickford made a smart save when a strong shot from ex-Aycliffe player Brian Close over the bar.
Ali Alsabeeb smacked a shot against the crossbar from 25 yards on 36 minutes, as the sides traded attacks.
Guisborough nearly got a foot back in the game in first half injury time, when a shot was cleared off the line by Aycliffe full back Kevin Carr.
Aycliffe went straight on the attack in the second half and Chris Koski hit a great shot that just went over the bar.
Matthews then had a good run and shot, but narrowly missed the target. Guisborough pulled a goal back on 68 minutes when a header from a corner hit the bar and came back out to Close, who volleyed in for 3-1.
Aycliffe nearly got another goal when Matthews twisted and turned past defenders and sent in a low cross that Alex Barnes slid in for and just missed the goal with his shot.
Jordan Wintersgill made his debut for Aycliffe near the end, coming on as a substitute; the Aycliffe Youth player did well and put in a great low cross into the penalty area in injury time, but no-one could get on the end of it.
