Dunston UTS 2 Newton Aycliffe 1

Improved Dunston do enough for victory.

14th March 2015
EBAC Northern League Division 1
Dunston UTS 2
Newton Aycliffe 1
Attendance 143

Dunston welcomed Newton Aycliffe to the UTS Stadium for the EBAC Northern League Division 1 game. After Tuesdays dismal draw against Sunderland RCA Dunston were looking to pull their socks up and get back on the victory trail against a lowly placed Newton Aycliffe side, which despite new signings by new manager Peter Dixon, formerly at West Auckland, are still requiring points to ensure First Division football next season.

Dunston were without Coulson, suspended, Dixon and Bulford injured and Gilhespy unavailable but welcomed back Craig Hodgson onto the bench after his lengthy spell out recovering from a knee injury against Crook early in the season.

Dunston came out the starting blocks and in the 3rd minute Nicky Kane got past Craig Garthwaite and put in a low cross which was cleared back to him, his next cross saw a Wilson Flick go just wide of the far post. On 5 another Kane cross to Wilson was laid back to Ormston whose shot was tipped over the bar by Winter. On 8 minutes Ormston played the ball into Wilson whose shot was blocked the ball fell to Harrison in the area but his poked shot on target was deflected and cleared from the box. Aycliffe struggled to get into the game with the Dunston defence being alert.

On 12 Burrell beat the Aycliffe offside trap beating Garthwaite and then playing his shot past the the helpless Winter into the net for 1 –0 to Dunston. On 16 Aycliffe got a chance as Knight was played through, his low shot however was blocked and cleared, a minute later the ball was played out on the wing to Laidlaw whose shot into the near post was parried clear by Connell. On 18 Dan Smith was challenged in the act of shooting for a corner which was taken by Halliday, Wilson’s header was cleared as far as Burrell who shot into a crowded goal area and the ball was blocked.

On 22 After 22 Wilson did well to retrieve a through ball and pulled his cross back across the goal but Wilson did well to collect. In the 32nd minute Coffey shot wide after collecting a loose Dunston clearance, on 38 Banks was played through but the alert Connell blocked his shot just outside the 18 yard box and cleared the danger, Burrell picked up a loose Wilson clearance and shot wide from 40 yards out.

On 39 Ormston played in Burrell whose shot on target was deflected wide for a corner, the corner from Halliday was low into the front post which Wilson did well to stop and collect. On 41 Wison collected the ball and travelled into the Aycliffe defence, despite being pulled back he continued into the area and forced a corner. The corner from Harrison was met by Ormson who headed down into the corner of the goal only for Wilson to save.

Half Time Score 1 – 0

Dunston came out in the second as they did in the first with Dan Smith crossing to Burrell whose shot was saved by Winter, within a minute Winter saved low down again as Ormston shot. On 50, Kane shot over the bar after receiving a lay off from Wilson. On 52 Kane was played through one on one against the keeper playing his shot into the net for Dunstons’ second. On 62 Wilson crossed for Smith whose header was deflected for a corner, from the Halliday corner Ormston headed over the bar.

Aycliffe got back in the game on 65 when Young fired a 25 yard shot wide of the target and then two minutes later Paul Garthwaite shot over the bar from 35 yards. Dunston replied with Kane attacking the Aycliffe defence beating 3 men before placing his shot wide of the target. On 71 McAndrew put in a deep cross whish went just over the bar and then on 74 McAndrew raced with the ball down the left wing only to be fouled by Mitton as he tried to cross, from Harrisons’ free kick Scorer headed against the cross bar.

On 75 Harrison shot over the bar after receiving a lay off from Kane. Aycliffe pulled a goal back on 86 minutes after a lone effort by Knight saw him travel down the right wing and enter the box before firing a low shot pas Connell into the far corner of the net 2-1 to Dunston. Dunston became wary in the final minutes but restricted Aycliffe and Knight to only one opportunity which was shot wide of the near post.

Full Time Score Dunston 2 Newton Aycliffe 1

An improved Dunston display saw them gain a useful victory to keep them in the top six of the league with only 9 games to play. The league title will definitely come from the current top six and Dunston have 3 of those teams to play Guisborough (a), Shildon (a) and North Shields (h) in what should be an interesting final month of the season.

Dunstons Man of the Match: Dale Burrell, his midfield running and support of the forwards was an essential ingredient in getting the required result.

Dunston UTS: Connell, Harrison, Halliday, Burrell, Scorer, Cattanach, Smith (McAndrew 62), Ormston, Wilson, Williams, Kane (Wightman 81). Subs not used: Clark, Hodgson, Preen

Newton Aycliffe: Winter. Brown, Gibson, Mitton, Garthwaite (Craig) (Boagey 52), Young, Garhwaite (Paul) (Harrison 83), Coffey, Laidlaw (Scott 75), Knight, Banks. Subs not used:

Report by T.C.

Next Home Game.
EBAC Northern League - Dunston UTS vs Newcastle Benfield on Tuesday 24th March 7:30pm KO