SHILDON v NEWTON AYCLIFFE

Northern League Division 1 - 8 October 2016

After a hectic five weeks of FA Cup and Vase action the void this week is filled with a top of the table (4^th v 3^rd) derby clash between Shildon and Newton Aycliffe. Dean Street, with which I am more than familiar, has a traditional feel to it and is looking good in the sunshine which has tempted the whole of the home team into their short sleeved red shirts; the visitors blue are more a hotchpotch of long, short and short with almost matching protruding under-armour.

The game starts at a hundred miles an hour, neither team wanting to give their opponents time on the ball. Aycliffe’s Dennis Knight overdoes the pressing and is booked within five minutes. Not much later a Shildon corner creates danger and a goal line clearance drops to the feet of attacker Lewis Wing. He is in the box with his back to goal but has the skill to turn and chip a great ball back across to the opposite post where teammate Michael Rae sidefoots a shot into the net.

The lead settles Shildon and they have the balance of play for the next half hour without concrete reward; but they do lose Wing to an injury. His replacement, Paul Connor is right into the action. Running onto a bouncing through ball he lifts it over the advancing keeper to double the lead. Half time is approaching but Shildon get a corner and from it Billy Greulich-Smith rises high and heads in a third goal.

It could be game over but moving into added time Dennis Knight is brought down within range of the Shildon goal. He takes the free kick himself and finds a gap between the wall and the near post that the keeper can’t plug in time. It may just keep Aycliffe in the game and make for a more positive half time in the visitors’ dressing room.

In the first quarter hour after the resumption it is Shildon who look most likely to score. Headers from Daniel Moore and Paul Connor, and shots from Michael Rae and David Ferguson go wide or are saved by a busy Lewis Brass in the Aycliffe goal.

Newton Aycliffe break from time to time, and skipper Paul Garthwaite, who has been uncharacteristically quiet, finally finds some time and space in midfield. He looks up and curls a long diagonal cross perfect for Knight to dive full length at and head home his, and his team’s second goal.

Suddenly a home win looks less certain. Shildon have more chances with a Feguson header and a toe poke from centre half Dan Groves after a forceful run from the back, but neither is good enough to beat Brass. Aycliffe’s danger man Knight wins another well placed free kick, and though his shot deflects off the wall it still needs Nick Liversedge to tip the ball round the post. For Shildon, late substitute Amar Purewal almost seals the win but his header comes back off the post.

At the death a sliced Shildon clearance gives Knight a run on goal that is ended with a tactical foul that gives Newton Aycliffe what could be a final chance at an equaliser. Knight takes, but sees his shot blocked deep in the six yard box. As the ball rebounds out of the penalty area it is cleared before Knight can get to it; however he does get to the defender who cleared it, whom he royally clatters, receiving a straight red card.

Knight’s eventful afternoon – booked on five minutes, scoring two goals, sent off – is not over yet as there is a fracas in the tunnel as he exits the field. Disruption is still bubbling as the final whistle goes to end an eventful game that Shildon deserved to win but made hard work of.