Report

Consett gave their fans some New Year cheer today as two goals from Scott Fenwick gave Consett a hard-earned 2-1 win over Dunston – one of his old clubs.

The big striker scored once in each half to make it back-to-back wins for the Steelmen over former Northern League rivals following the 2-1 success at Stockton Town on Boxing Day.

Dunston dominated possession and chances in the first half, with Jon Shaw somehow hitting the post at point-blank range, and it was very much against the run of play that Consett took the lead in the 32nd minute.

Scott Fenwick was bundled over by a clumsy challenge by centre-back Jude Swailes, and after the referee pointed to the spot the No 9 picked himself up to beat former Consett keeper Dan Staples to make it 1-0, pictured top.

It remained 1-0 at half-time, and in the 64th minute Consett doubled their lead. A long pass by Adam Mitchell saw Scott Fenwick beat a defender to the ball and prod it past the onrushing Staples from the edge of the box, for his third goal in his last three games.

 

Dunston almost pulled one back when sub Liam Thear’s shot hit the post, and they did reduce the arrears in the 72nd minute when Carl Finnigan fired home as Consett appealed in vain for an offside decision.

Michael Fowler missed two chances to level for the visitors, while Kieren Aplin dragged a shot wide after a classic counter-attack as Consett sought a third goal to seal the game.

And the match ended in dramatic fashion deep into added time when another swift break saw Aplin’s effort handled outside the area by keeper Staples, who was shown a straight red card, pictured below.

 

Consett couldn’t get the third goal against the stand-in keeper to put the game to bed, but saw it out comfortably to claim a hard-earned win and climb to 11th place in the table.

It was manager Tony Fawcett’s first home win, and his side were warmly applauded from the field by the home fans in the bumper bank holiday crowd of 559.

The game was a special one for Consett’s ex-Dunston defender Dan Capewell, who was outstanding alongside Arjun Purewal and Ben Milburn at the heart of the defence, and also for Matty Slocombe, who was making his 400th appearance for the club.