So, with the weather set fair, the teams in position and all officials and onlookers prepared, the game began. AFC Liverpool were immediately under the cosh and looked to be in danger of being caught cold, unlike my aforementioned globes which were nicely tucked away and enjoying each others testicular company (I really do need to get over this nut fixation). Newton Aycliffe survived a tame scare when the home No 11 (Oliver Sanderson) delivered a cross that No 9 (Kyle Schorah) couldn't make true head contact with. The guests reacted, No 9 (Ethan Ward) gathered possession, advanced and had time to shoot at a back-pedaling keeper. The option was declined and an unselfish pass was made which No 11 (Sonni Coleman) latched onto and fired home. Now that was what one calls a real shocker.
The visitors looked keen to double their early lead as the opposing unit floundered and looked utterly out of sync. A brace of corners bore no fruit and from nowhere the Liverpool lads broke away. A long ball fell to Sanderson who had only the keeper to beat. The attempt was to fire home into the near post, the outcome was to bulge the side netting and to have the incident consigned to the portfolio labelled 'forgettable'. Soon after the hosts came again with a razor-sharp dissecting ball finding No 10 (Callum Schorah) who released a punt with good weight that the mittman did well to save. A corner ensued, a touch on and a back flick on the line needed some last minute defending with a follow-up hoof from the angle cracked too long for any awaiting assassins.
Newton Aycliffe decided to up the ante with a sumptuous cross causing the keeper to punch and a re-delivery equally choice and again dealt with by the mitted guardian. The corner came and went, this was a decent game very much up for grabs
Next and a football highpoint. The Red Army was gifted a free-kick much to the disgruntlement of Newton Aycliffe. C. Schorah stepped up and sent in a wonder strike that was destined for the top corner. Imagine the appreciative applause that went up when the man between the sticks dove, reached out an arm and just turned the ball around the post - marvellous stuff that sent a tingle of satisfaction across the scrotal sacking, darn those cheap pills off the Internet. The corner that followed saw the keeper clobbered - well, you can't win em' all.
Now the trailing pack began to work back in and build some momentum. Sanderson punctuated a fine break but was denied by a keeper on form. The same player received yet again, raced on, dillied and dallied before picking out K. Schorah in the box. A quick turn and some cute strength saw a gap appear and the mesh-focused striker fire home. The goal was fully deserved and suddenly the pendulum of power was swinging the other way.
Towards the half-time break Aycliffe got back on terms with the flow. The best chance came when Ward had a deflected shot fly on target which was tidied up by an alert and ready goalie. A through ball followed with the legs of No 7 (Liam Jarvie) a veritable blur. The keeper read the danger, galloped off his line and just managed to quell matters. Finally, No 8 (Jake Peit-Jean) had a shot deflected wide with the corner killed dead by an offside decision - we entered the break all square.
Half-time and another brew, a piddle and a chomp on one of the worst pasties I have ever had. Imagine a pastry dried out, recharged with a nuclear blast and left as a flaccid mess containing one solitary piece of meat. I never normally complain but this was a bad do people. I threw the remains I couldn't manage in a bin, the local fly colony departed and went in search of some local dog turds, I was tempted to join em'.
Half two soon followed. the hosts came out with a vengeance and applied some suffocating pressure. A ball entered the box, K. Schorah collected and was marshalled by a trio of attendants. A wriggle, a twist and a fraction of space was found. Schorah did what his name suggests and walloped the ball home in convincing style - the turn around was complete.
The NA lads tried to respond to this body blow but Liverpool were on a roll and came once more. K. Schorah directed forth an outrageous ball that C. Schorah chased for all he was worth. It looked as though another golden chance would arise, but a solid last ditch tackle killed the chance stone dead. K Schorah for the same whipped up pack had a shot deflected wide soon after with the resultant corner producing bugger all - Newton Aycliffe now needed to get their acts together and do it pronto.
Alas for the visiting fans the home pack looked in control and came close when a choice corner found the bonse of No 4 (Paul Speed), at the back post, who executed a neat header that was beautifully tipped over by the travelling No 1 (Adam Pickford). Another corner followed, the keeper rose and held with comparative ease. A substitute came next with AFC's two-goal hero replaced - well played that man. With 20 minutes to go a couple of moments of madness saw the leaders get knocked down to 10 men with 2 yellows issued for quite petty acts. The game was now pushed further onto the precipice and offered a glimpse of hope for the Aycliffe unit.
The Newton lads pounced, an attack came that was swift and direct, but the end attempt on goal was dealt with by a stickman with his eyes on the ball and thus saving with heightened quality. Shots followed at each end of the ground and several balls were posted into the home box but the attackers were late in arriving and no further impressions on the scoreline were made. More efforts ensued, all to no avail as AFC Liverpool remained stout and resolute and duly progressed to the next round. The result was well earned and the Man of the Match was given to AFC Liverpool's No 5 (Fidan Hajdari) for a grafting and efficient stint that was an integral part to keeping the team in the contest and making sure that after the early shocker, no further strikes were given away. We pootled off pleased with a good game and with a note made to try and see this lot in the next round.
FINAL THOUGHTS - A fine day out and a good contest seen with the hosts moving on and hopefully continuing what will be an epic cup run. Newton Aycliffe seemed to come with a plan today, got the most ideal start and then, when the opposing force pushed on, drastically ran out of ideas. In truth, they should have bagged another goal at least, but today they were beaten by a hungrier and seemingly fitter squad. AFC Liverpool put a serious stint in for the full 90 minutes and even after a slow start the desire, determination and hunger was there for all to see. The majority of 50/50 balls were won, defensively they worked up a lather and stayed focused and from the middle of the park they always looked liable to create a chance. If they keep this perspiring attitude up and have a bit of luck along the way, who knows where things will end - Wembley perhaps or the boozer at the end of the road after being knocked out on penalties. Alas, news came through before I had finished this report that the teams next round game clashes with a fungus walk I am leading - oh bugger. I wish the team all the best and hopefully we will be back mighty soon. NB - it seems the visitors play in an area with several nature reserves nearby that we have not visited. Keep yer peepers peeled, we may be heading that way to pootle and ponder.
