Roofers too strong for new boys
NEWTON Aycliffe came to Jarrow Roofing's Boldon CA ground in their inaugural season in the Northern League as an unknown quantity.
When the game kicked off, it was fair to say that Newton Aycliffe looked a useful side.
But it was the Roofers, who took the lead inside six minutes.
Craig Nelson dummied his marker and passed the ball wide to Robbie Houghton, who gave keeper Stephen Richardson no chance with his shot.
Aycliffe stormed the Roofing defence with some very good team play, but Gary Frater kept them at bay.
Kris Hepple and Kevin Davison were upended without a whistle, so when Aycliffe got away with it, Roofing retaliated and the first period was a debacle.
Roofing looked to add to their tally, but twice Nelson was denied at the last minute.
On 25 minutes it was 1-1 as Elliott Gardner picked out Mark Wood, and he hit a rocket shot into the net.
Aycliffe continued to get away with some rough play without the referee even giving a foul never mind a card.
The second period saw Aycliffe come out of the blocks early to pressure the Roofers, and on 47 minutes they should have taken the lead when Paul Broom played the ball past the Roofing defender for Elliott Gardner to beat the advancing Frater with a neat shot that came back off the inside of the near post and across the goal for Danny Carson to run clear.
Roofing soon retaliated, as Nelson turned his marker and played the ball into the corner, where Chapman took a touch before crossing for Tony Thirkell to head home.
Roofing began to stretch Aycliffe, restricting them to shots from distance.
However, a corner almost brought a goal when Chris Renshaw rifled a shot in from a corner that Frater blocked.
Roofing then had a hectic five minutes when the defence were forced to work hard to preserve the lead during which Frater was forced to tip a 30-yarder from Wood over the bar.
It was all over as a contest, when on 80 minutes substitute Michael Hepplewhite – on for Nelson who had worked his socks off – scored the goal of the game.
Foster lifted the ball over the midfield in front of him and it fell for Hepplewhite who had his back to goal to chest it down and as it dropped lift it over his head.
As he turned to leave the Aycliffe defence in his wake, he drove the ball across Richardson to stave off any chance of an equaliser.
Aycliffe, to their credit, never stopped trying, but they couldn't get back in to the game as Roofing held firm to ensure a deserved victory.
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Weather for South Shields
Friday 10 February 2012
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