Report

Consett suffered their third consecutive Northern Premier League defeat when a poor start to the second half saw them lose 4-1 at Newton Aycliffe.

The hosts started the game well, and Jason Miller’s side fell behind after just seven minutes when Dean Thexton headed in Liam Jarvie’s right-wing cross from close range.

Ethan Wood almost made it two 10 minutes later, but fired just wide from a knockdown from a corner, but Consett slowly played their way into the game and began to threaten.

They had their first chance on 21 minutes when Donny Holdsworth played in David Allasan, but home keeper Jim Pollard made a good save.

From the subsequent corner Consett equalised, as Liam Colledge headed goalwards from Jake Orrell’s flag kick, and Donny Holdsworth got a touch to divert the ball over the line.

It was the striker’s fifth goal in seven games since signing from Bishop Auckland, drawing him level with Isaac Walker at the top of the goalscoring charts.

Six minutes before half time Consett’s best move of the game saw Holdsworth and Orrell tee up Walker, who turned superbly in the box, but his well-struck effort was superbly saved by Pollard.

Half-time: Newton Aycliffe 1 Consett 1

A slow start to the second half would ultimately cost the Steelmen – wearing their mint third kit for the first time – the game.

Aycliffe regained the lead on 47 minutes when Jarvie’s run took him past two defenders and he squared to set up Dean Thexton for an easy finish.

Four minutes later Consett were left with a mountain to climb when a superb crossfield pass by Jake Petitjean and a good run and cross by Liam Adamson saw Dean Thexton complete his hat-trick with a diving header.

Aycliffe were now in complete control, and Jarvie, Adamson and sub Cieran Jackson missed chances to increase their lead, while Consett keeper Harry Moss made a good save from Wood.

Two minutes from the end it was 4-1 as Aycliffe countered quickly when a Consett attack broke down, and Cieran Jackson finished coolly past Moss.

It was a convincing win for the home side, marred only by the sending off deep into injury time of their centre-back Dale Elgie, who was shown a straight red card for a late tackle on Holdsworth.