A Hard Fought Tussle

Shildon AFC are now 8th in the league with games in hand after beating much improved Newton Aycliffe 3 – 1 at Dean Street on Saturday 10th January 2015.

It was a hard fought tussle with high winds throughout the game making if difficult for both sides to control play.

Shildon had the wind behind them in the 1st half and after a Micky Rae header was pushed over by keeper Jamie Winter the visitors took the lead on 6 minutes when Daniel Moore lost possession and Dennis Knight capitalised, running through and scoring from near the penalty spot.

Shildon were not at their best in the 1st half and were lucky not to go 2 – 0 down when a Paul Garthwaite shot on 37 minutes hit the inside of the post and bounced out.

Half Time:  Shildon AFC  0  Newton Aycliffe  1

Early in the 2nd half goalscorer Dennis Knight was clean through but he fired wide.

Two minutes later Lee Chapman’s free kick was pushed onto the crossbar by keeper Winter.

Just after the hour Aycliffe were down to 10 men when No 5 Andrew Green was given a straight red.

With the one man advantage Shildon pressed for the equaliser and looked far more threatening. Micky Rae had a shot blocked, then he fired over the bar.

Shildon thought they had levelled on 70 minutes but No 4 Dan Mitton headed off the line with the keeper beaten.

Two minutes later it was 1 – 1 when Micky Rae’s great cross from the left was fired home from close range by captain Mark Hudson.

Aycliffe were camped in their own half and having to defend in numbers, and with just 6 minutes left Shildon got their just reward going 2 – 1 up when a left wing corner was scrambled in by Daniel Moore.

Near the end Micky Rae found Chris Emms who scored with his first touch of the ball for 3 – 1.

On 90 minutes Aycliffe were down to 9 men when Stuart Banks received his 2nd yellow.

Final Score:  Shildon AFC  3  Newton Aycliffe  1

Goalscorers:  Hudson 72, Moore 84, Emms 87.

Bookings:  (Y)  Wood 12, Chapman 54, Moore 57.

Subs:  Scroggins for Doninger 20, Connor for Chapman 73, Emms for Wood 85.

Man-of-the-Match:  Micky Rae

After the match manager Gary Forrest said “This was a difficult game for both sides as the wind was horrendous. I felt that Aycliffe were always going to tire in the closing stages and that we had goals in us, it was just grinding them out”.