Newton Aycliffe FC found themselves on the wrong end of a convincing 4-0 scoreline when they travelled to Dunston on Wednesday night.
With new signing Gary Wood unavailable, Aycliffe were forced to make a change from the side that won at Bishop last week, with Stephen Butterworth coming in to replace him.
Aycliffe started the game brightly. Dunston appeared to be suffering the after effects of their Vase defeat on Saturday, and Aycliffe should have gone in-front, missing two gilt edged opportunities.
Unfortunately for Aycliffe, in the 34th minute, star striker Jamie Owens received a heavy challenge, and had to be withdrawn. Early fears are that his season could be over, after the challenge on the same area of his ankle that was broken two months ago.
Before Aycliffe had chance to re-group, things got worse. A top class save from Liam Connell in the Dunston goal, denied Tom Atkinson from a one on one situation.
And from the save, the hosts went up the other end and scored, Gary Ormston with the goal. The goal was certainly against the run of play!
However in the second half, things started to unravel for Aycliffe.
On the hour mark, Lee McAndrew doubled the home sides lead, and it was a position Aycliffe never really threatened to come back from.
As the confidence began to increase in the Dunston team, it was only a matter of time before they extended their lead, the goal eventually coming in the 70th minute, Wightman with the goal.
And on the stroke of full-time, the hosts got a fourth, to really emphasise their superiority. On this occasion it was scored by Bulford.
So Aycliffe will be looking to recover quickly. Saturday sees another hard away game, against Northern League heavyweights Whitley Bay. Hot on the heels of that, Aycliffe welcome top of the league Celtic Nation to Moore Lane on the 19th, followed by lowly Team North on Saturday 22nd. They will be dearly hoping to pick up some points from these three games, in order to maintain their first division status.
Aycliffe: Little; M.Wood, Clough, Mitton, Close; Butterworth, M.Young, Raitt, Owen; Atkinson, Owens
Subs: Mellanby, Green, Oliver, Hedley, J.Young.
