Newton Aycliffe 3 - 2 Newcastle Blue Star - 24.10.26
Blue Star narrowly beaten in a thrilling encounter at The Ashcourt Group Stadium amidst horrendous weather conditions.
By Harry Tindall
As the rain was battering down, it was Follin who got the game underway in Newton Aycliffe. Blue Star were heading into their second away game of the week and looking for a much improved performance than shown at Penrith.
The game started just how you would expect it to in stormy conditions. Neither side could get a grip of the ball in the opening minutes, and the first shot of the game was a long-range pot shot from Lewis Orrell that blazed over the bar and into the cricket club.
The game soon sprung into life when Shodeinde opened the scoring for Blue Star, catching the Aycliffe stopper off his line with an excellent lob from distance.
Aycliffe responded well to going a goal down with striker Charlie Dawson being the main focal point for the home side, but Blue Star’s defence coped well with him thus far.
Dawson laid off Nelson on the left edge of the box for a curling effort just wide of the target, in what was Aycliffe’s best chance yet. Dawson was then on the receiving end, finding himself in a great scoring position after he was set up by Johnson but his shot from the centre of the box was over the bar.
Soon after, a perfect delivery from Nelson found Dawson in the box again but this time he made no mistake, with a composed right footed volley levelling the scoring.
The game wasn’t level for long as Morris regained the lead for Blue Star. Shodeinde’s free kick strike fell to Follin after a deflection off the wall, Follin then pounced but his attempt was saved but Morris capitalised on a spillage from the keeper to tuck home from close range. Morris will hardly score an easier goal in his football career.
Blue Star saw out the remaining ten minutes of the first half to take a lead going into the break in an end to end encounter.
The second half began on a similar note to the first half, with both sides struggling to create any real opportunities, although the home side were having more of the possession.
In controversial circumstances, Aycliffe equalised again through Brumwell. He headed home at the back post from a corner, much to the frustration of Will Anderson who believed he was fouled in the process. The referee sin-binned Anderson for his protest against the goal so midfielder McClen was tasked to take the gloves for the next ten minutes.
Aycliffe would be keen to take advantage of the makeshift Blue Star keeper but their first attempt during McClen’s spell in goal was a header wide of the target from Rudd. The Blue Star defence were doing a great job protecting the goal in Anderson’s absence.
Through on goal for Blue Star, Richardson’s strike low was saved well by Shanley in the Aycliffe net. A brilliant run from the young striker after winning the ball back for himself, but he would be frustrated to have not found the back of the net there.
Just as the sin bin was about to finish, Aycliffe took the lead for the first time in the match with an unbelievable long range strike from captain Jack Clarkson. Absolutely nothing McClen could do about it, with the wind playing a big effect on the trajectory of the ball.
Before Blue Star were to kick-off again, Anderson returned to the pitch, with the score now 3-2 to the hosts.
It went from bad to worse for Blue Star as debutant Henry Harvey was shown a straight red card following a cynical foul on the right wing and retaliation which saw multiple players get involved.
There was still time to get an equaliser for Blue Star and they hadn’t lost hope yet as Richardson pounced on a bouncing ball but his effort hit the crossbar. Moments later, he was slipped through by Coulthard and scored but the flag was up for offside.
Blue Star dug deep but were unable to make it count in additional time as the game ended in defeat. A frustrating result after having the lead twice but not helped by difficult playing conditions. Focus now turns to next Saturday’s game at Kendal with the boys having a valuable full week to recover and prepare for an important clash.
Newton Aycliffe: Shanley, Rudd, Dobinson, Clarkson, Al. Nelson, Brumwell, An. Nelson (Atkinson 79’), Slocombe, Dawson (Jackson 87’), Fitzpatrick (Johnson 18’), J.Orrell
Subs not used: Short, Pascoe
Goals: Dawson 29’, Brumwell 66’, Clarkson 78’
Newcastle Blue Star: Anderson, Eggleston, Burke (Harvey 57’), Orrell, Armstrong, MacLeod, Morris (Coulthard 80’), Follin (D.Anderson 72’), Shodeinde (Richardson 48’), McClen, Zych (Okike 45’)
Red card: Harvey 81’
Goals: Shodeinde 11’, Morris 36’
Date/Time: 24th October 2026 15:00 Attendance: 150
Next match: Kendal Town (A) 31st October 2026 15:00 – NPL Division One
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