FA Vase 2nd Round - Colne 3 Newton Aycliffe 5 (AET)
Sat 21st November 2015 | FA Challenge Vase | By Ian Templeman
Colne's interest in the FA Vase this season was ended after extra time in a cracking cup tie at the XLCR Stadium.
After a sluggish start that saw them two goals down at half time, Colne staged a terrific second half comeback to force extra time, but a controversial penalty award and a clinching goal from Newton Aycliffe substitute Alan Harrison earned a hard fought victory for the visitors.
It turned out to be an outstanding 120 minutes of action, and the spectators who braved the wintry conditions in East Lancashire were treated to a footballing feast that produced eight goals, four penalties, countless goalscoring chances, controversial incidents, and an outstanding performance from Newton Aycliffe goalkeeper James Winter who played a big part in ensuring his side's safe passage into the next round.
The visitors line up contained a number of players who appeared for West Auckland Town in recent FA Vase finals at Wembley, and they certainly enjoyed the best of the opening half hour, as Colne struggled to get any sort of foothold on the game.
The warning signs for Colne were evident almost from the start, with Newton Aycliffe's Matty Moffat and Zac Boagey both spurning good chances in the opening minutes before the Northern League side finally went ahead.
The opener arrived from the penalty spot in the 11th minute, with Dennis Knight making no mistake from the spot after Stuart Banks went down under a challenge.
The visitors continued to dominate the early stages and it wasn't until around the half hour mark that Colne began to enjoy some territory and possession, and on 32 minutes they were handed an opportunity to get back into the game.
Newton Aycliffe captain Paul Garthwaite appeared to have little chance of avoiding being hit on the hand by a cross driven in by Danny Boyle, but the referee ruled the offence intentional and pointed to the penalty spot. Boyle took the kick himself, but although he struck the penalty well, Newton Aycliffe keeper James Winter made a fine save, diving to his right to push the ball away for a corner.
Seven minutes from half time the keeper was in action again, this time after a fine sweeping move from Colne involving Jason Hart and Spencer Jordan set up Chris Anderson for a shot, but Winter again reacted well to push a well struck effort round the post.
But after a bright ten minutes, Colne suffered a setback on the stroke of half time when they conceded a second goal, with Dennis Knight grabbing his second of the afternoon with a shot from the left hand side of the penalty area that beat Colne keeper Chris Thompson at his near post.
It was a disappointing end to the half, but Colne emerged for the second half in determined mood and picked up the momentum again, and after a Danny Boyle effort was saved by Winter, Colne finally opened their account just after the hour.
A ball down the left flank found Danny Boyle in space, and after he cut inside the full back, he unleashed a cracking shot from the edge of the box that gave Winter in the Newton Aycliffe goal no chance.
However, the elation in the home camp was short lived, as straight from the kick off, Newton Aycliffe restored their two goal lead, with Stuart Banks collecting a pass, turning past his marker and burying a shot into the far corner.
It was a bitter blow, but to Colne's credit they demonstrated an impressive fighting spirit and determination, and dominated the last 20 minutes with a terrific display of pacey, attacking football.
With 13 minutes left, Newton Aycliffe skipper Paul Garthwaite was penalised for a second time for handball in the box, and Jason Hart stepped up to despatch the penalty and reduce the deficit to a single goal.
Three minutes later Colne substitute Ben Allen beat the offside trap and fired in a cross that Danny Boyle just failed to connect with, and the same combination created another chance minutes later, with a Boyle shot being deflected wide.
But six minutes from time, the Colne Red Army were in full voice when the home side drew level. After a free kick was awarded wide on the left, Jason Hart curled a ball deep into the penalty area that skimmed off the head of a defender and landed in the path of Chris Anderson who bundled the ball home from close range.
It was no more than Colne deserved for their efforts, and the drama wasn't over as deep in stoppage time, Allen once again made space down the right to fire a cross into the box that found Jason Hart, whose shot from 12 yards beat the keeper and agonisingly hit the post before being hacked clear.
It was the last action of a frantic 90 minutes and having finished the half so strongly, it was tempting to believe that the initiative had swung Colne's way.
However, within a minute of the opening period of extra time, Newton Aycliffe were ahead once more, and mystery and controversy surrounded the goal which arrived from the fourth penalty award of the afternoon.
The referee appeared to have signalled for a corner kick after a challenge by a Colne defender, but after protests from Newton Aycliffe players, he consulted with his assistant and then pointed to the spot.
After the Colne protests had died down, Dennis Knight completed his hat trick with an unstoppable penalty driven high into the top corner of the net.
It was a bitter blow for Colne, but they continued to push forward and were desperately close to drawing level right on half time, but were once again denied by the outstanding Winter in the visiting goal.
Adam Stockdale set up Jason Hart for a shot that Winter did well to block, and when Chris Anderson followed up to pounce on the loose ball, Winter again produced an outstanding point blank save to keep his side ahead.
As the second half of extra time wore on, both sides predictably tired as the pace of the game took its toll, but there was still time for one more talking point when Newton Aycliffe sealed victory with a fifth goal five minutes from the end.
There appeared to be a foul on a Colne player as Newton Aycliffe's Stuart Banks won the ball, but the referee waved play on and the ball was played up to substitute Alan Harrison, who curled a 25 yard shot into the top corner of the net past Thompson to round off the afternoon on a memorable note for the visitors.
Colne manager Steve Cunningham said: "The slow start killed us. They were the better team in the first half, but I can't ask for any more than I got in the second half.
"The lads were absolutely unplayable with their fitness and the quality of their football.
"Their keeper was man of the match, but if we had taken our chances we'd have won the game and we had a lot of chances.
"It's a hard luck story but we've got to move on from this. We've been in a good game, it was a good game for the fans, and the best of luck to Newton Aycliffe in the next round".
FA Vase 2nd Round - Colne 3 Newton Aycliffe 5 (AET)
Sat 21st November 2015 | FA Challenge Vase
By Ian Templeman
Colne's interest in the FA Vase this season was ended after extra time in a cracking cup tie at the XLCR Stadium.
After a sluggish start that saw them two goals down at half time, Colne staged a terrific second half comeback to force extra time, but a controversial penalty award and a clinching goal from Newton Aycliffe substitute Alan Harrison earned a hard fought victory for the visitors.
It turned out to be an outstanding 120 minutes of action, and the spectators who braved the wintry conditions in East Lancashire were treated to a footballing feast that produced eight goals, four penalties, countless goalscoring chances, controversial incidents, and an outstanding performance from Newton Aycliffe goalkeeper James Winter who played a big part in ensuring his side's safe passage into the next round.
The visitors line up contained a number of players who appeared for West Auckland Town in recent FA Vase finals at Wembley, and they certainly enjoyed the best of the opening half hour, as Colne struggled to get any sort of foothold on the game.
The warning signs for Colne were evident almost from the start, with Newton Aycliffe's Matty Moffat and Zac Boagey both spurning good chances in the opening minutes before the Northern League side finally went ahead.
The opener arrived from the penalty spot in the 11th minute, with Dennis Knight making no mistake from the spot after Stuart Banks went down under a challenge.
The visitors continued to dominate the early stages and it wasn't until around the half hour mark that Colne began to enjoy some territory and possession, and on 32 minutes they were handed an opportunity to get back into the game.
Newton Aycliffe captain Paul Garthwaite appeared to have little chance of avoiding being hit on the hand by a cross driven in by Danny Boyle, but the referee ruled the offence intentional and pointed to the penalty spot. Boyle took the kick himself, but although he struck the penalty well, Newton Aycliffe keeper James Winter made a fine save, diving to his right to push the ball away for a corner.
Seven minutes from half time the keeper was in action again, this time after a fine sweeping move from Colne involving Jason Hart and Spencer Jordan set up Chris Anderson for a shot, but Winter again reacted well to push a well struck effort round the post.
But after a bright ten minutes, Colne suffered a setback on the stroke of half time when they conceded a second goal, with Dennis Knight grabbing his second of the afternoon with a shot from the left hand side of the penalty area that beat Colne keeper Chris Thompson at his near post.
It was a disappointing end to the half, but Colne emerged for the second half in determined mood and picked up the momentum again, and after a Danny Boyle effort was saved by Winter, Colne finally opened their account just after the hour.
A ball down the left flank found Danny Boyle in space, and after he cut inside the full back, he unleashed a cracking shot from the edge of the box that gave Winter in the Newton Aycliffe goal no chance.
However, the elation in the home camp was short lived, as straight from the kick off, Newton Aycliffe restored their two goal lead, with Stuart Banks collecting a pass, turning past his marker and burying a shot into the far corner.
It was a bitter blow, but to Colne's credit they demonstrated an impressive fighting spirit and determination, and dominated the last 20 minutes with a terrific display of pacey, attacking football.
With 13 minutes left, Newton Aycliffe skipper Paul Garthwaite was penalised for a second time for handball in the box, and Jason Hart stepped up to despatch the penalty and reduce the deficit to a single goal.
Three minutes later Colne substitute Ben Allen beat the offside trap and fired in a cross that Danny Boyle just failed to connect with, and the same combination created another chance minutes later, with a Boyle shot being deflected wide.
But six minutes from time, the Colne Red Army were in full voice when the home side drew level. After a free kick was awarded wide on the left, Jason Hart curled a ball deep into the penalty area that skimmed off the head of a defender and landed in the path of Chris Anderson who bundled the ball home from close range.
It was no more than Colne deserved for their efforts, and the drama wasn't over as deep in stoppage time, Allen once again made space down the right to fire a cross into the box that found Jason Hart, whose shot from 12 yards beat the keeper and agonisingly hit the post before being hacked clear.
It was the last action of a frantic 90 minutes and having finished the half so strongly, it was tempting to believe that the initiative had swung Colne's way.
However, within a minute of the opening period of extra time, Newton Aycliffe were ahead once more, and mystery and controversy surrounded the goal which arrived from the fourth penalty award of the afternoon.
The referee appeared to have signalled for a corner kick after a challenge by a Colne defender, but after protests from Newton Aycliffe players, he consulted with his assistant and then pointed to the spot.
After the Colne protests had died down, Dennis Knight completed his hat trick with an unstoppable penalty driven high into the top corner of the net.
It was a bitter blow for Colne, but they continued to push forward and were desperately close to drawing level right on half time, but were once again denied by the outstanding Winter in the visiting goal.
Adam Stockdale set up Jason Hart for a shot that Winter did well to block, and when Chris Anderson followed up to pounce on the loose ball, Winter again produced an outstanding point blank save to keep his side ahead.
As the second half of extra time wore on, both sides predictably tired as the pace of the game took its toll, but there was still time for one more talking point when Newton Aycliffe sealed victory with a fifth goal five minutes from the end.
There appeared to be a foul on a Colne player as Newton Aycliffe's Stuart Banks won the ball, but the referee waved play on and the ball was played up to substitute Alan Harrison, who curled a 25 yard shot into the top corner of the net past Thompson to round off the afternoon on a memorable note for the visitors.
Colne manager Steve Cunningham said: "The slow start killed us. They were the better team in the first half, but I can't ask for any more than I got in the second half.
"The lads were absolutely unplayable with their fitness and the quality of their football.
"Their keeper was man of the match, but if we had taken our chances we'd have won the game and we had a lot of chances.
"It's a hard luck story but we've got to move on from this. We've been in a good game, it was a good game for the fans, and the best of luck to Newton Aycliffe in the next round".
