Ryhope CW 3, Newton Aycliffe 2
By Dave Strickland
Newton Aycliffe’s recent run of good form came to an end away to 18th-placed Ryhope Colliery Welfare at the weekend.
The home side clinched a 3-2 win with an injury-time winner, but the margin could have been larger, as they missed several good chances.
Ryhope started the stronger and nearly took the lead on 14 minutes when a shot narrowly missed the goal.
A minute later they took the lead when Aycliffe failed to clear their lines and Ryhope winger Ellis shot past James Winter.
Aycliffe then had a good spell in the game. A Kurt Matthews header brought a good save from the home keeper on 26 minutes. Then Craig Hutchinson and Thibault Charmey both got shots away.
They pulled level on 33 minutes when the Ryhope centre half misjudged a header, releasing Hutchinson who finished well in the corner.
But the lead only lasted three minutes, as a cross from the left found its way to Ellis, who put a unstoppable shot in the top corner.
Ryhope were on top, but Aycliffe pulled themselves back into the match just before the break when Jordan Jewson beat two men and crossed for Aycliffe man-of the-match Hutchinson to head in for his second.
Ryhope dominated the second half and hit the bar on 64 minutes. They went on to miss several good chances, as Aycliffe rode their luck.
That luck ran out in injury time, as slack marking allowed Ellis to claim a hat-trick and the three points.
Aycliffe’s home game with Washington on Tuesday night was postponed, while their home fixture with title-chasing Consett on Saturday (March 3, 3pm) is highly likely to be postponed.