After what seemed like an eternity, the lads were back into league action with their first game of 2026 being a league game at home against Newton Aycliffe Blacks. The lads were missing Sam and Oscar to injury and illness and goalkeeping Callum on holiday. This meant a first league game in goal for Riley, having played a couple of pre-season friendlies there.
The lads started the game very slowly and it was Aycliffe that had the best early chances with a shot just wide and another against the post. The Yellows took until around the 15th minute before a shot from Lucas was well saved and nobody was able to reach the follow up.
Aycliffe were easily the better side in the opening half and got their reward in the 25th minute when a ball over the top found their striker through one on one against Riley to calmly score into the bottom corner, 0-1.
It nearly got worse for Wear as another shot flashed across the box just after the opening goal. Eventually the lads woke up and managed to get into the game. Thomas had a shot wide from a Reggie cross, Ryan hit a good shot from distance before 3 minutes from half time Sean went on a run forward. He was initially held up but carried on putting the opposition defenders under pressure and won a free kick almost near the corner flag. Lucas floated a lovely cross into the box and Kaden was there to guide a header into the far corner to make it 1-1.
It almost got better for the Yellows before half time as a great piece of work from Mason found Ryan who was fouled on the edge of the box. Thomas' free-kick was parried by the Aycliffe keeper and Ollie's follow up hit the bar. 1-1 at Half time.
The second half again started slowly for Wear and it was Aycliffe who took the lead again in the 30th minute as a defensive error let them in to score and make it 1-2.
Just as with the first goal it almost got immediately worse and scrambled defending saw the ball hit Finley and bobble onto the Wear post before Finley jumped up to clear. As has happened quite often this season the Yellows gradually managed to show the character to get back into the game. After forcing a couple of corners, on of which was almost converted by Lenny, a third corner found Ollie at the back post facing away from goal. After a good turn he found enough space to curl a ball into the far top corner to make it 2-2.
Whilst Aycliffe still had plenty of attacks the next 15 minutes were Wear's best part of the game and they managed to make this count. Firstly a combination of Mason and Lucas managed to send Thomas through on the left side of the 6 yard box. Thomas squared the ball across and Ryan was there to score and make it 3-2. Around 5 minutes later Sean sent Reggie away down the right. Reggie worked his way almost to byline before crossing to Sean who hit the ball into the near bottom corner to make it 4-2.
At the other end Riley had to come off his line a few time and Olly, Kaden and Finely were always kept busy but the Yellows also looked busy. A brilliant run by Reggie forced another corner to be taken by Lucas. The ball found Thomas towards the back post, his touch went back into the box, where Mason stretched to poke the ball in and make it 5-2 with around 5 minutes to go.
There were further attacks at both ends but in the end Mason's goal ended the scoring. Overall whilst it would be a stretch to say that the Yellows were lucky to win today, they have played better and Aycliffe were the better side for much of the game. Mason and Riley had good games but the Star Player award this week was shared by Finley and Sean for good games at opposite ends of the pitch.