AFC Newbiggin v Cramlington United

7.30pm 20 December 2024

Northern Alliance, Premier Division
AFC Newbiggin 5 Cramlington United 4 (att 85)

I occasionally question my sanity when groundhoppiing. Driving to Northumberland, and then standing in a freezing cold wind waiting for a Northern Alliance game to begin was one of those occasions.

But I have a warm winter coat, I was staying in a hotel just a short drive away, and I was about to witness the most remarkable 90 minutes I've seen in a long time.

I don't keep detailed enough records to know if I've ever previously seen a team come back from being 4-0 down to win, but I definitely have now.

Newbiggin's defensive frailities were exposed early on by Cramlington, who scored three times in the opening 15 minutes. They'd added a fourth by the half-hour.

If the home side had any consolation it was that the fourth goal came after they'd had a decent spell, and that they'd be playing with the wind more behind them in the second half.

And by the time second period got underway they'd already halved the deficit. Two goals in quick succession just before the break swung momentum in their favour.

AFC Newbiggin began the second half in a determined attacking fashion. With barely an hour played they'd turned the game around, scoring three times for a 5-4 lead.

Surprisingly there were no more goals, although both teams had chances. Cramlington United were agonisingly close to a stoppage time equaliser when a shot went narrowly wide.

AFC Newbiggin were only formed in 2011, and have recently moved into a newly-developed ground at Newbiggin Sports Centre. As well as floodlights, it's equipped with a pair of seated stands, is enclosed and has some hard standing.

It feels like a venue built with promotion to the Northern League in mind, and this win keeps Newbiggin in the Northern Alliance title race.