Newton Aycliffe were within seconds of going through to the preliminary round of the FA Cup at the weekend and pocketing £2,250 – until Guisborough keeper Jordan Nixon scored to deny them.

Aycliffe were leading 3-2 at Guisborough and eyeing a healthy pay day, until the home side won a throw in just inside the Aycliffe half deep into stoppage time.

Guisborough keeper Jordan Nixon, who was on Darlington’s books and played for West Auckland in the FA Vase final, went up front to support his attack. The ball came in from the right and was nodded on to him by Nathan Steel, and the keeper showed a striker’s instinct by chesting the ball down and firing past Aycliffe keeper James Winter.

Aycliffe manager Deano Browne said; “I was gutted for the lads, they gave me everything and did what I asked.

“We were second best in the first half, we got our shape wrong and after a good 10 minutes we were poor and deserved to be 2-0 down. A few changes in the second half meant we were better and they couldn’t handle us for 30 minutes and we deserved to be ahead. Some poor refereeing spoilt the game for us and gave Guisborough the chance to equalise with the last kick of the game.”

Anthony Hume scored twice in the first half to put Guisborough into the lead, but then Mattie Pennal scored twice in six minutes to pull Aycliffe level by the hour mark. James Rowe fired Aycliffe into the lead, but it was Nixon who had the last word.

Bishop Auckland’s hopes of a good run were dashed when they lost 2-0 at home to Pickering.

Bishops had their chances to take the lead, but they were reduced to ten men when Kieran Galbraith was red carded for a late tackle. Pickering were also down to ten before half time, but it was Pickering who adjusted better to being a man short rather than Bishops, and they scored twice early in the second half.

Bishop Auckland manager Ian Chandler said; “It was a disappointing result, we never hit the levels of the previous two games and yet we had enough chances to at least force a replay. There were two golden headed chances missed by AJ and Winny. There were moments in the game the referee may have done better but that doesn't detract from our below par performance.”

West Auckland are through after a comfortable 4-0 away win at Washington.

Summer signing Tom Portas put them in front from long range, and five minutes before half time Amar Purewal ran through and scored the second. Nathan Fisher made it 3-0 from the edge of the box just on the whistle, and he completed an easy win with a penalty midway through the second half.

West Auckland manager Gary Forrest said; “It was a comfortable win, the lads kept their discipline and didn't get frustrated.”

Northallerton were beaten 4-0 at home by Garforth from the Northern Counties East League.

Northallerton manager Darren Trotter said; “We’re very disappointed with the score line as we created lots of chances but did not take any of them. The difference was their number 10 who was very clinical taking all his chances. Had we scored when we were on to, there could have been a different outcome.”

In the other ties, Billingham Synthonia missed two penalties but still drew 1-1 at Barnoldswick. Sunderland RCA won their local derby by 5-2 against Ryhope CW, while Dunston won 3-2 at Hebburn.

Consett beat North Shields at Belle View with a late goal by Luke Carr, while Whitley Bay won 3-2 at Thackley Stockton Town will replay against Newcastle Benfield on Wednesday after Nathan Mulligan’s long range effort earned them a draw.

The draw for the preliminary round on 25th August is: Knaresborough v Blyth, Dunston UTS v Pontefract Collieries, Newcastle Benfield or Stockton Town v West Auckland, Whitley Bay v Barnoldswick or Billingham Synthonia, Morpeth v Marske United, Consett v Seaham Red Star or Heaton Stannington, Tadcaster Albion v Shildon, Clitheroe v Sunderland RCA, Albion Sports v Guisborough or Newton Aycliffe.