Our panel of three football writers give their predictions on Newton Aycliffe’s game this weekend…
Three points are awarded if our ‘experts’ pick the exact score, 1 point awarded if they get the result correct.
It was Glen and Martin’s turn to grab the three points last week as Tom Hinchley’s late goal secured them both a perfect score!
Glen Robertson – 9
Paul McGeary – 8
Martin Walker – 7
A few perfect scores in recent weeks then, so let’s see if the trio can keep it up…
Glen Robertson
I’m not sure I can take any more last-minute equalisers. Even though I won’t be at the game, having to follow the game via Twitter will be agonising. I’d much prefer a nice, straightforward 3-0 win. Unfortunately, you don’t tend to get those away at Whitley Bay. On their day, they remain a match for any team in this division. But Aycliffe have a good history against them. An unbelievable 4-1 away win in the League Cup when Allan Oliver’s men were a second division side, before a truly memorable 2-1 win at Moore Lane Park last season. The only time the Bay have beaten the Royal Blues was with a 97th minute winner last year at Hillheads. If the Newtonians play like they did in midweek, they can come away with a point this year.
Whitley Bay 1-1 Newton Aycliffe
Paul McGeary
What a week we’ve had. The better side in both games against top-eight teams yet only two points to show. But what a two points they were, both salvaged in the dying embers of games as the spirit and unity now within the dressing room finally shines through. Settled squads, settled formations and team-building nights in are proving fruitful, as is the tactic of unleashing Dan Mellanby upon weary defences for 30-minute cameos. Saturday will be no different and as long as we’re within reach on the 70 minute mark, then we’re coming home with something. A 4-1 win and last season’s narrow 97th minute defeat to Bay at Hillheads in the past also give us confidence, as does their 4-1 reverse to Hebburn on Tuesday. The skipper is in goalscoring form and Danny Earl is due one too. Aint no stopping us now!
Whitley Bay 2-2 Newton Aycliffe
Martin Walker
Confidence and morale is back to full strength, we always seem to perform at Whitley Bay, and we always seem to raise our game for the “big guns”. The rose-tinted spectacles are well and truly back on!
Whitley Bay 1-1 Newton Aycliffe