Newton Aycliffe’s FA Trophy run came to an end at the weekend with a 2-1 defeat at Stockton Town on Saturday.
Aycliffe had achieved a fantastic win at Premier division side Whitby Town in the last round.
But their fellow Step 3 team Stockton proved too strong for Aycliffe on this occasion.
Stockton opened the scoring with less than 5 minutes gone, subjecting Aycliffe to considerable pressure.
But they were unable to extend their lead. Aycliffe fought back in the second half and Dean Thexton headed an equaliser with 20 minutes to go.
Just as the 850-strong crowd, including many travelling fans, were thinking of a penalty shoot-out, Stockton grabbed the winner on 85 minutes.
The defeat came off the back of an emphatic 4-1 win against local rivals Consett last Tuesday night.
Thexton shone as he bagged a hat-trick and the man-of=the-match award.
It was the first time Aycliffe had defeated Consett since August 2021.
Attention now turns back to the league with four consecutive home games – Pontefract Collieries on Tuesday night (October 29), Carlton Town on Saturday (November 2), Bradford Park Avenue (November 9) and Ashington (November 12).