DARLINGTON
RAILWAY ATHLETIC v NEWTON AYCLIFFE
For the third consecutive season the FA cup
run starts with Newton Aycliffe, but not at Moore Lane Park this year. Instead
we are at Brinkburn Road, home of Darlington Railway Athletic. It could be
third time lucky for Aycliffe after crashing out at this earliest of rounds in
their first two campaigns. Although they are playing away they are in the
Northern League Division 1, and top after two wins from two games; RA are in
Division two, and bottom having lost their two opening games.
The clubs are near neighbours; I come via
Newton Aycliffe and it takes only 12 minutes from there to get to Brinkburn
Road; parking is easy and entry only £2 for an ‘owd geezer’ (£4 for normal
folk). Arriving early enables the £1 programme and posted team sheet to be
perused at leisure while taking in the surroundings in this, my first, visit.
The ground is open with small covered areas
behind each end, one seated and one not. The cricket pitch is adjacent with a
game in desultory progress – the day is cool, cloudy and threatening
intermittent blustery showers, for once the extra preliminary round day is more
suited to football than cricket. The programme is basic and from its content
and layout it is clear the club relies heavily on a few dedicated but
overstretched individuals.
On the pitch the teams are out and going
through the obligatory line up and handshakes in front of an attendance
(falling well short of a crowd) of about 100. RA are in all red and Aycliffe in
all blue.
The first twenty minutes are fairly scrappy
with both teams coming to terms with the grassy but bumpy pitch and the
blustery wind, favouring RA in this half. Eventually Aycliffe gain territorial
advantage and are able to get a couple of warning shots in. Midfielder Selby’s
effort is deflected onto the bar and then Owens weaves his way into the box
before smacking a left footer against the outside of the near post.
RA continue to live dangerously and ten
minutes before the break Muir handles on the edge of his penalty area. With the
free kick in the middle of the D, the RA keeper Calvert tries to line up a
wall, but ineffectively as Owens’ side-foot bypasses it into the corner of the
net.
Aycliffe look more comfortable having broken
through and continue to press. Just ahead of half time, their centre forward
Earl is sharpest to a bouncing ball in the RA box and cleverly lifts it over
Calvert, off his line, into the goal to establish 2-0 lead at halftime.
Newton Aycliffe’s Division 1 quality has
started to tell, with twin strikers Owens and Earl able to hold the ball up and
bring in teammates to build attacks. RA are pinning their hopes on longer balls
– into the channels for the willing Allison and England to chase down, and well
placed diagonal crosses from attacking full backs Ramsbottom and Farrington.
That may work better into wind after the break.
Two minutes into the second period RA keeper
Calvert clears a through ball from the edge of his box. His Aycliffe
counterpart, Molyneaux, meets it well outside his own box and returns it with
interest (and the wind). One bounce and the ball is up and over the despairing,
rather flat-footed grasp of Calvert who turns to see it roll into the empty
net. It’s a body blow to go 0-3 down so soon after the half time pep talk and
RA visibly wilt. Ten minutes later its 0-4 as Salvin scores with a glancing
header from a right wing cross after RA fail to clear a corner.
Aycliffe reckon its game over and bring on
three substitutes at once; RA also make a couple of changes, including the
feisty Abel, whose immediate scuffle with an opponent could have led to a
short-lived cameo with a less tolerant referee.
The changes make little difference.
Aycliffe’s next goal is well worked with Owens doing an impression of a nippy
left winger, skipping past a couple of uncommitted defenders, before crossing
from the by-line for substitute Mellanby to tap in.
With 15 minutes still to go it could get
worse but a long back pass from Aycliffe’s Selby turns out to be the best
through ball of the day, enabling centre forward Allison to close in on goal
and fire in a fine shot from the edge of the box. The goal gives RA some heart
and as the rain begins to fall in earnest the spectators gravitate to the
covered seating, giving them the best view of the closing action as RA finish
with a flurry of corners. Only a finger-tip save from Molyneaux keeps them out,
crowning a memorable day for the unlikely goalscorer.
Newton Aycliffe will have a tougher game in
the next round but will be pleased to have their first ever FA Cup win, a
handsome 5-1. Darlington Railway Athletic will count the gate money and
continue trying to build up the club.
