Report

Consett and Pontefract Collieries served up a feast of Friday night football, despite the ravages of Storm Darragh, with the Steelmen running out 4-3 winners in a cracking game played in awful conditions.

Manager Jason Miller made just one change to the side which had won at Grimsby Borough six days earlier, with David Allasan coming in for the unavailable Wil Shaw, and it was to prove an inspired change.

The game kicked off in strong wind and driving rain, which got worse as the night went on, and it was to both teams’ credit that they managed to put on such an entertaining encounter.

Pontefract had the first chance on five minutes, but centre-forward Bailey Thompson dragged his shot wide. Two minutes later Consett had their first sight of goal when top scorer Donny Holdsworth got to the byline and pulled the ball back for Isaac Walker, who was denied by a superb block by Jack Greenhough.

Allasan had started brightly on the right, and on nine minutes he brought a good save from keeper Will Mitchell, with Holdsworth flagged offside as he sought to benefit from the rebound.

Consett took the lead on 17 minutes when the visitors failed to clear a corner and David Allasan placed his shot into the far corner for his first Consett goal.

A minute later the Steelmen were inches away from doubling their lead when Holdsworth turned and smashed a shot just over the bar from the edge of the box.

It wasn’t all one-way traffic, and Pontefract had two chances in a couple of minutes as the half reached its midway point. Louie Chorlton was within a whisker of equalising when he hit the post, and was then denied by keeper Harry Moss at the expense of a corner.

Pontefract were having their best spell of the game, and two goals in a minute turned the game on its head. On 31 minutes Marc Costello was judged to have handled Greenhough’s long throw, and the referee pointed to the spot.

The visitors’ top scorer Jack Boyle converted the penalty, and a minute later Ponte went ahead when Matty Slocombe’s misplaced backpass fell to Bailey Thompson, who was left with just the keeper to beat.

Consett didn’t let the setback affect them; Allasan had a shot blocked, while Walker fired a well-struck 25-yarder into the keeper’s midriff, and wasn’t too far away with a cheeky dinked effort, but they still trailed at half-time.

Half-time: Consett 1 Pontefract Collieries 2

Consett started the second half well, dominating possession without creating a clear-cut chance, but they levelled on the hour when Pontefract gifted them an equaliser. A poor backpass took their keeper out of the game, and David Allasan took advantage to finish from an acute angle.

Consett’s tails were up now, and Charlie Exley lashed a free-kick just over from 20 yards after a foul outside the box which earned centre-back Jack Steers the game’s first caution.

On 64 minutes the Steelmen regained the lead when good work by Holdsworth set up Isaac Walker, who kept his cool and adjusted his feet to finish into the far corner for his eighth goal of the season.

This time it was Pontefract’s turn to respond, and they did, making it 3-3 on 70 minutes when sub Oli Metcalfe found the bottom corner.

The sides traded chances as they sought a winner; Liam Colledge fizzed an effort wide from 30 yards for Consett, while at the other end Ponte sub Kieran Ceesay set up Boyle, whose shot was deflected for a corner.

Holdsworth was just off target with a 20-yard free-kick, but Consett got the goal their efforts deserved on 83 minutes. A great pass sent David Allasan clear and he drew the keeper before completing his hat-trick.

Holdsworth was denied by Mitchell as Consett looked for a killer fifth goal, but it didn’t matter, as the Steelmen comfortably saw out the four added minutes to record back-to-back wins for the first time this season.
MATCH REPORT: GARY WELFORD
PICTURES: KENNY TAYLOR & KEITH MARLEY