By Ryan Livingston
It has been goals galore for Newton Aycliffe in recent weeks, with the Newtonians scoring eight and conceding 10 in just three games.
They are currently the Northern Premier League East’s top scorers with a whopping 73 goals.
Midfield maestro Jake Petitjean currently leads the tally for Aycliffe with 18 goals, followed by Dean Thexton with 16 and fellow forward Liam Jarvie with 15.
A round-up of the last three games…
February 4: Newton Aycliffe 1-3 Cleethorpes Town
League leaders Cleethorpes Town carried on their momentum in a game where Aycliffe held them at 1-1 for a large part of the game after Jake Petitjean converted a penalty. The second half saw Aycliffe struggle with both Nicky Walker and Josh Walker making it 1-2 and 1-3 respectively in a second half where Aycliffe were struggling to break through.
February 8: Consett AFC 4-4 Newton Aycliffe
This topsy turvy encounter saw Aycliffe come back from a 12 minute 3-0 deficit to briefly lead 4-4 before conceding late in the game. Donny Holdsworth, Calvin Smith and David Allasan led to the home side been 3-0 up but Newton Aycliffe slowly responded via Toby Pascoe, Liam Jarvie and Dean Thexton to make it 3-3 in the first half. The second half saw Aycliffe take the lead courtesy of Liam Adamson but Consett’s Wil Shaw made sure the game ended in a draw despite late pressure from Aycliffe.
February 15: Newton Aycliffe 3-3 Belper Town
The Derbyshire side were 2-0 up in the 40th minute when league top scorer Harry Draper and Jerome Greaves scored within seconds of each other. Liam Adamson scored on the cusp of half time however to give the home side much needed momentum. In the second half both Aycliffe and Adamson kept that pressure going when they made it 2-2 in the 47th minute Kevin Bastos for the away side then scored in the 67th minute but Aycliffe gained a share of the points courtesy of Liam Jarvie in the 71st to make it a 3-3 draw.