It is mid August and shirt sleeves and sun glasses are much in evidence at Moore Lane Park. The grass is impossibly green and the lines are virginally white. The FA Cup starts here, literally for Newton Aycliffe who, following promotion to the northern league division 1, have entered the historic competition for the very first time. They are rewarded with not only an attractive home tie against Billingham Synthonia, but also, earlier in the week, a rare chance to display the trophy itself at an open day for the local fans.
Whether due to the publicity, the occasion or the good weather, the turnout is a good few hundred by the time the teams emerge; Synthonia in their striking green & white quarters and Aycliffe in a more sober royal blue with a white chest band. Both teams have started the season well with eight goals apiece in the two games played, so a 4-4 draw could be on the cards.
As the game gets underway Synthonia settle best, keeping possession and probing for openings; when Aycliffe get the ball they look to get it forward quickly. But three minutes in, Synthonia change pace and send a long ball over the left back’s head. The winger gets there first, eludes the covering centre half and angles the ball back for a colleague to sidefoot an opening goal that audibly deflates the expectant home crowd.
The pattern of play continues with Synthonia controlling most of the game; strong at the back, neat in midfield and threatening up front. Several near misses fly in from Synthonia but Aycliffe survive and after 26 minutes force the Synthonia keeper into action, tipping over a curling effort. Synthonia respond immediately, getting closer when a shot hits the post and bounces along the line before being cleared. Synthonia again try the long ball over the left back and again reap success as a good pull back is hammered into the net for 2-0 That looks like the half time score but with a minute left Aycliffe lose possession in their own half and the big Billingham number nine bears down on the keeper. His fierce shot is parried well, but the centre forward goes after the rebound and smacks it confidently into the net for 3-0.
During half time the substitutes get their turn on the pitch; only 4 from Newton Aycliffe, but 8 from Billingham, indicative of the difference in club resources? More entertainingly the local kids kick about in what was the Synthonia goalmouth, giving it a taste of what it’s been missing in the first forty-five.
Aycliffe start the second half in the knowledge that they need an early goal and manage a couple of shots in the first few minutes, but they still look lightweight up front and vulnerable at the back when Synthonia move up field. After 20 minutes one of these Synthonia forays puts pressure on the Aycliffe defence, forces an error and allows the left winger to pounce and score from a tight angle. At four nil down the home team are becoming a little desperate and press recklessly forward. Within five minutes, almost inevitably, they are exposed to a break and a long diagonal ball is met 30 yards out and delightfully lifted over the advancing stranded keeper to make it 5-0.
The game lulls as Synthonia ease back and Aycliffe recognise a lost cause, but then with ten minutes to go Aycliffe’s efforts finally bear fruit as a bulky midfielder ploughs a lone furrow through a couple of tackles and the keeper’s attempted block to walk the ball into the net providing consolation for those stalwarts remaining to the bitter end. All this does though is wake up Synthonia, now with a few hungry subs on the pitch. They go straight down the other end and find a man in so much space everyone waits for the offside decision. No flag, no whistle, no chance for the goalie; 6-1. Aycliffe are disheartened and disorientated and soon give the ball away again in front of goal; once more Synthonia are clinical in slotting home their seventh and final goal. But it’s not the end of the scoring as a late Aycliffe corner kick somehow finds its way into the Billingham goal. Dead on 45 minutes the referee stops the fight, with Synthonia ahead by 7-2.
Synthonia march off well satisfied; they look strong enough to go a few more rounds, so we may see them again. For Newton Aycliffe this first taste of the FA Cup has been memorable, but it will be at least 12 months before it is contested again at Moore Lane Park.
Nice one, Dad. What's the next match?
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