Newton Aycliffe 3, Bedlington Terriers 2
By Bob Wood
Newton Aycliffe returned to winning ways in an exciting game against Bedlington Terriers on Saturday.
The win was timely as fifth-placed Aycliffe prepare for their Durham Challenge Cup final against second division side Whickham on Good Friday.
Aycliffe’s midweek games against Ashingon and Washington had both resulted in defeats.
Even worse central defender Alex Kitchen suffered a broken leg in the game at Washingon.
Aycliffe needed a lift and put on a strong first half performance, taking the lead after 10 minutes. Ashley Coffey played a ball through to John Campbell who beat the defenders and placed the ball out of the reach of the Bedlington keeper into the net.
The second goal came on 23 minutes when leading scorer Matty Moffat jumped to a high ball. His back header found the goal leaving the keeper stranded.
The home team went into the break with a 2-0 lead and looked like they were heading for a comfortable victory against a team lying second bottom of the league.
However, Bedlington came out for the second half in determined fashion and were soon threatening.
Within five mins of the restart they had a loud penalty appeal turned down. A cross into the box hit Dennis Knight’s arm but from such close range that the referee refused to point to the spot.
Aycliffe came close to a third just after the hour when a Jordan Laidler cross from the right found Moffat who was unable to get a controlled shot on target.
Within a few minutes Bedlington pulled a goal back. A Knight miss-kick landed at Liam Hudson’s feet. The Bedlington forward fired past James Winter who could only get his fingertips to the ball.
Two minutes later the visitors had a good chance to equalise but Andrew Ferrell’s shot was deflected wide.
Aycliffe had more attempts but without getting them on target. With a minute to go, however, Moffat scored his 20th of the season. Running on to a long ball forward he beat the defence and comfortably placed a shot into the net.
That didn’t end the drama. With the clock on 90+1 Bedlington substitute Michael Baxter found himself in space in the box and fired home.
It was with some relief shortly afterwards that Aycliffe heard the final whistle.
They now travel to Ashington on Tuesday night for a league game and then move on to the Hetton Centre for their first Durham Challenge Cup final appearance in their 50-year history.
Aycliffe now have 50 points in the league. The last time they finished a season with more than that was in 2012-13, but this year they have reached the half century with 14 games still to play.
After the cup final they go into a sequence of six consecutive home games between 29th March & 14th April.
Thanks to the wet winter weather it will be a gruelling run to the end of season, and the club hopes as many Newtonians as possible get to Moore Lane to support them.