By Martin Walker
Aycliffe forward Ben Wood has signed for local rivals Shildon just days before the transfer deadline.
The 20-year-old ex-Sunderland trainee goes straight into the Railwaymen’s squad for their game at home to Penrith tonight.
The Northern League transfer deadline is this Saturday.
Wood has scored 12 goals from 25 games this season, and played an influential part in the club’s title-winning campaign last year.
Chairman Gary Farley said: “We wouldn’t want to stop any player from leaving when they don’t want to be here, so Ben goes to Shildon with our blessing and we wish him all the very best.
“He’s been a cracking servant to the club over the last 18 months or so and was a key member of last season’s promotion-winning squad. We wish Ben well with Shildon.”
After leaving Sunderland’s reserves set-up, Wood joined his hometown club midway through the 2010-11 campaign and netted seven goals from his 13 outings, and has scored a total of 21 goals from 41 games for Aycliffe.
Shildon are currently 15th in the Northern League first division – seven places and 21 points behind Aycliffe in the table.