Brit scrape past rivals Aycliffe
League Cup Round Two

THE NORTH BRITON scraped through to the quarter-finals of the League Cup with a hard-fought win over their closest rivals, Aycliffe Village.

Division Three side Aycliffe proved there’s no great difference between the first and third divisions by pushing their top-flight neighbours all the way.

The Brit needed extra-time to eventually see off Aycliffe, who wasted a string of chances to win the game, after the two sides drew 1-1 in normal time.

Mark Bulman scored against the run of play to put the Brit 1-0 up before the break, but Morgan Fielding drew Aycliffe level after half-time.

Striker Marc De Lucia grabbed the all-important second with a well-taken, extra-time clincher.

Brit boss Stuart Hodgson said: “It was a cracking derby. Aycliffe played some good football and put us under great pressure in the second half, and after that it could have gone either way. But credit to both teams for the way the game was played.”

Elsewhere in the League Cup, Tudhoe United won 6-5 at home to EBAC with goals by Dan Thornton, Allan Barratt, Christian Schofield, Paul Cantwell, Pat Watchman and sub Billy McClacklan with his first goal in nine games.

James Curley said: “Billy was the scoring hero, for a change! He has struggled to score in recent weeks – on and off the pitch – so it was refreshing to see him come off the bench to net the winner.” Craig Ellison (3), John Wheatley and Gareth Hodgson scored for EBAC.

Meanwhile, Old Shildon won 3-2 at Thorns with goals by Anthony Brown (2) and Michael Davidson. Mark Nicholson and Steven Richardson scored for Thorns.

Castle won 4-0 at home to Hogans with goals by Paul Thompson, Wayne King, Mark Gibbon and Paul Cundel Gargett.

Shildon Fox won 7-0 at home to Bishop Masons with goals by Michael Roberts (4), Ross Brown (2) and Stephen Hall.

Croxdale won 3-2 at home to Half Moon with goals by Karl Lamb, Ben Roffe and Kevin Hepburn. Paul Bayles and Michael Fearman scored for Half Moon.


9th Jan 2007