Consett left it late but finally managed to grind out a 2-1 win against a dogged Penrith side at Belle View Stadium today.
And they used up a slice of luck too, with Jake Orrell’s corner going straight in to give them an injury-time winner in the Northern League Division One game.
Consett dominated in terms of possession and chances, but the Cumbrians defended superbly until the very last kick, when their hosts got the bit of luck their display deserved.
The Steelmen took the lead in the 31st minute, when Dale Pearson was fouled near the corner of the box. Orrell floated in the free-kick, and Ross Wilkinson was there to guide home a header, pictured below.
The lead lasted just two minutes as Penrith responded well, scoring from their first clear-cut chance. Max Brown broke down the right, fired the ball across and Mikey Williamson poked it home at the second attempt.
It remained 1-1 at half-time, and the second half saw Consett up their game considerably, laying siege to the visitors’ goal.
On 54 minutes a fine cross from Carl Lawson on the right saw Penrith keeper Luke Miller tip Ali Alshabeeb’s close-range header onto the bar, and then save Pearson’s follow-up on the line.
Matty Cornish replaced Alshabeeb in the 58th minute, and Consett immediately looked more threatening, even when they lost Pearson for 10 minutes after he was sent to the sin bin for dissent.
Miller saved Cornish’s shot with his outstretched leg, then palmed over Darren Holden’s well-struck effort as Consett piled on the pressure.
Cornish had two more attempts saved by the young keeper, Pearson blazed over the bar from Orrell’s cross, and then Miller made a brave stop at Pearson’s feet as Penrith defended for their lives.
Just when it seemed like Consett were going to have to settle for a point, the fourth minute of added time saw Jake Orrell swing over a corner from the left, and it missed everyone in the middle before bouncing up off the wet pitch and ending up in the top corner.
- Full match report and more pictures to follow.
