Newton Aycliffe took their unbeaten league run to eight games with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Ashington.
The Colliers arrived at Moore Lane Park on the back of reaching the last 16 of the FA Vase and thumping reigning Northern League champions Spennymoor 4-1 in midweek but, while they ended Scott Pocklington’s record run of clean sheets, they were unable to inflict defeat on Allan Oliver’s men.
The visitors started the brighter and deservedly took the lead through Marc O’Dea’s deflected shot, but Aycliffe battled back strongly and veteran striker Dan Mellanby equalised before half-time.
Both sides went looking for a winner in an entertaining, end-to-end second-period, but neither side were able to force a winning goal.
Skipper Sean Tarling missed out due to work commitments, with Ben Wood dropping back into the midfield. Paul Broom, Stephen Gibson, Dale Jardine and Mellanby returned to the line-up, with Josh Gray, James Oliver and Chase McMullen making way.
The visitors included 18-year-old Newcastle Academy hopeful Dan Taylor, who five days earlier played for the Toon’s reserves against Manchester United. Former Sunderland legend Colin Todd was keeping a close eye on the young Magpie throughout his maiden venture to Moore Lane Park.
Gary Middleton’s Vase hopefuls took control of the early stages and in the 10th-minute Marc Walton and Andrew Johnson linked up well before finding Taylor in the area, with the forward shooting wide after swivelling free from John Close, when he maybe should’ve done better.
Seven minutes later and the visitors went ahead. Walton released O’Dea into the area, whose shot was heading straight for Pocklington until a wicked deflection off stand-in skipper Darren Craddock looped the ball away from the keeper’s grasp.
It was the first goal Pocklington had conceded since Boxing Day in the league, a run of six hours and 29 minutes.
O’Dea should have doubled his side’s advantage three minutes later when he was found unmarked by Johnson at the back post, only to direct his header wide of the far post.
Aycliffe had struggled to get into the game in the opening half-hour, but sprang to life soon after. Paul Broom’s ball was flicked on by Jardine towards Mellanby who shook off his marker, before coolly rounding Karl Dryden and slotting home.
Suddenly Aycliffe were rampant and looked to go into the interval with an unlikely lead, but Nathan Wilson’s 25-yard drive went narrowly over and Broom’s effort just wide of Dryden’s left-hand post.
The second-half was a breathless affair, with both sides looking to secure a key victory. Pocklington blocked well from Walton amid a goalmouth melee, before producing a superb double save from Taylor midway through the half.
Broom laced over when well positioned on 74 minutes while a couple of close offside calls prevented Mellanby and Jardine the opportunity of a one-on-one with Dryden.
Both sides had late chances to win the game, with Colliers’ Johnson coming the closest, but his speculative effort clipped the bar of Pocklington’s goal. A draw was a fair result, keeping Aycliffe in fifth-place and protecting the seven-point lead over Ashington, who have six-games in hand.
Aycliffe travel to South Shields next weekend before hosting neighbours Shildon the following Saturday.
Team: Pocklington, Gibson, Owen, Craddock, Close, Wood, Wilson, Knox, Jardine, Mellanby, Broom. Subs used: Campbell. Unused: Oliver, McMullen, Black, Gray