Match Preview

Newton Aycliffe (A) – Saturday, 27th January 2024

The Opposition
Newton Aycliffe were formed in 1965 but little history from the early years is available.
They joined the Wearside League in 1984 but their highest finish in ten years was 7th and they eventually folded in 1994.
Having reformed in the mid 2000s, they went on to win Division Two of the Northern League in 2011 and reached Step 4 for the first time by becoming champions of the Northern League last season.
They also have a Durham Challenge Cup to their name, having won the competition in 2016.

The start to life at Step 4 was a tough one, going without a win in the first four matches including an exit from the FA Cup in the Extra Preliminary Round.
They picked up their first league win at home to Grimsby Borough on the 26th of August but three successive defeats followed.
Home victories over Ashington and Sheffield sandwiched a defeat to Ossett in September and October begun with back to back victories over Hebburn and Esh Winning (Durham Senior Cup).
Mid-November saw them really hit their stride - the 4-3 win at Belper was the first of four in a row where they scored exactly four goals and victories over Carlton and North Ferriby made it six in a row before Christmas.
Their next two fixtures saw defeats to Dunston and Grimsby Borough but they have won their last two league fixtures 2-0 and head in to this match off the back of a penalty shootout win over Horden Colliery Welfare in the quarter-final of the Durham Senior Cup; they will face Whickham for a place in the final.

The Newtonians are based in County Durham – 129 miles separates us from Moore Lane.

Manager Brian Atkinson took the reigns in November 2021.
Liam Adamson is top of the scoring charts this season with 12, Cole Kiernan has 9.

They currently sit 8th with the following record:
P 22 W 11 D 1 L 10 F 35 A 38 Pts. 34
22 of those points have come at Moore Lane.
The average attendance at home games is 172 which is the lowest in the division and the highest of the season saw 290 attend the Hebburn match in October.

The Nailers
Belper come in to the match in mixed form, with a fantastic ten-man victory at home to North Ferriby sandwiched by defeats to Ashington and Brighouse - a performance manager Lee Attenborough described as the worst of the season.
December had been a good month, undefeated in the league but postponements resulting in inability to gain any momentum have not helped.
Belper remain in the playoff positions, 4th with a record of: P 23 W 12 D 3 L 8 F 47 A 36 Pts. 39.
Six of those wins and 20 of the points have come away from home.
Kevin Bastos remains clear as top scorer with 15, with 2 of the next 3 in the list (Johnson & James) no longer at the club. Phil Watt has 6 and Brodie Litchfield is already 5th in the charts with 3.

Head to Head
The only previous meeting between the sides was earlier this season, a midweek game in November.
It was to be the first time this season the Nailers had lost back to back matches.
The Newtonians surged in to a three goal lead thanks to a 26 minute hattrick from Kyle Davis but Mason Warren's penalty on the half hour mark got Belper back in to the match.
The visitors quickly restored their three goal lead but that was their last goal of the evening.
Second half strikes from Cam Johnson and Kev Bastos weren't enough and the Durham side earned all three points with a 3-4 victory in front of 303 fans.

Form Guide (League)
Newton Aycliffe - (19 Dec) WWLLWW (13 Jan)
Belper Town - (23 Dec) DDWLWL (23 Jan)

Team News
Ben Rhodes remains an injury doubt.
Declan Dunn is available for selection again after suspension.

Permutations
Defeat during the week combined with Dunston's victory has pushed Belper down to 4th.
Victory on Saturday could take us back to 2nd if Dunston and Hebburn slip up.
Alternatively if results including our own don't go our way the tight nature of the top seven means slipping out of the playoffs is possible.
For Newton Aycliffe they can't climb a place due to a four point gap from Consett.
Their superior goal difference to North Ferriby means a draw or more should consolidate 8th place and they are well within touching distance of the playoffs.

Match details
Newton Aycliffe vs. Belper Town
Northern Premier League Division One - East Division
Saturday, 27th January 2024 – 3:00pm kick off
Moore Lane
Newton Aycliffe
DL5 5AG
Tickets: Adults £9, Concessions £6, Juniors £3.

Follow the match
Live commentary is available with Tom on Radio Belper Town - https://radiobelpertown.mixlr.com
Full coverage on X (Twitter). Team news, HT & FT scores on Facebook.
Match reports to follow on the website and in the Non-League Paper.

Elsewhere in Division One East

Game of the day is at Dunston where it's 3rd vs. 1st and the other team above Belper, Hebburn face a tricky trip to North Ferriby.

The three teams immediately below Belper all face away matches as well.

(10th) Ashington AFC vs. Sheffield FC (16th)
(13th) Bridlington Town vs. Grantham Town (19th)
(14th) Brighouse Town vs. Ossett United (18th)
(12th) Cleethorpes Town vs. Consett AFC (7th)
(3rd) Dunston UTS vs. Stockton Town (1st)
(15th) Liversedge vs. Pontefract Collieries (6th)
(9th) North Ferriby vs. Hebburn Town (2nd)
(17th) Stocksbridge Park Steels vs. Carlton Town (5th)
(20th) Winterton Rangers vs. Grimsby Borough (11th)