Bradbury’s 50th goal for the club, along with goals from Alfie Smith and Kiyani Clayton, gave the Countrymen the three points.

A late goal from Tony Pascoe gave Newton Aycliffe belief, and produced a nervy last 10 for the home side.

There was one change from the starting 11 that drew with Bridlington on the weekend, with Alfie Smith replacing the injured Adam Blakeley. And former player Daniel Booth made an appearance off the bench, coming on with 15 minutes to go.

Within 20 minutes, Hallam took the lead! Good play from Clayton ended with him playing a reverse pass through to Smith in nosebleed territory, who did brilliant and scored into the bottom left corner with a proper striker’s finish!

But a few minutes later, Aycliffe thought they had got an equaliser when a strike from the edge of the box hit the underside of the crossbar and bounced on the line, and away.

And they had another brilliant opportunity, with the ball being played in and around the six-yard-box, and a back post cross not being punished into an open goal.

A similar attempt happened at the other end soon after, with Clayton waiting at the back post, and the ball being cleared before being given the chance for an easy tap-in.

As the first half entered added time, Hallam doubled their lead. Countering from a Newton Aycliffe corner, Paulo Aguas turned brilliantly on the halfway line and played it through to Clayton on the wing, who played it back to Aguas, with Bradbury getting on the end of his cross in the middle and tapping home to take the Countrymen into a 2-0 lead going into half-time!

Just after the break, Bradbury had a perfect chance to get his second of the game, with Mason Warren racing to the byline and putting in a cross for the midfielder, who shot just wide of the far post.

Approaching the hour mark, Hallam got their third. Aguas and Clayton involved again, with the former switching to the latter, and, under pressure, slotting home past the keeper to further the advantage!

Good link up play between Brodie Litchfield and Clayton nearly resulted in a fourth, with Litchfield turning and playing him in, but his shot was easily saved by the goalkeeper.

Ashington got a goal back in the 78th minute, with Tony Pascoe scoring a great goal from the edge of the box to reduce the deficit.

Two minutes later, Clayton was inches from his second after dribbling into the box from the right and thundering it into the left post!

Despite late pressure from the away side, Hallam took home all three points, and sit 11th after the win.

Hallam are next in action on Saturday (21/3) as they travel to Bishop Auckland, and will next be at Sandygate on the 4th April, against Ashington.

Attendance – 312

Sheffield Assay Office MOTM – Kiyani Clayton

Photo Credits – Ian Jones