Report

Consett’s recent good run came to end as they went down to a narrow 2-1 defeat to bottom of the league Sheffield on a frustrating afternoon in South Yorkshire.

A goal in each half from home centre-forward Luke Aldrich was enough to secure the points, and although Consett got a late goal from Donny Holdsworth, they were unable to force an equaliser.

Manager Jason Miller made one change from the victory over Bridlington, with Ryan McKinnon coming in for Liam Colledge, who failed a late fitness test and had to settle for a place on the bench.

Isaac Walker also returned after being unavailable the previous week and was named on the bench. The home side included a familiar face in Simon Jakab, who was part of our FA Vase Wembley squad, and while we were used to seeing him in defence, he was employed in central midfield by his new side.

Consett started the game well, enjoying the bulk of possession but were rocked on seven minutes as Sheffield took the lead with their first attack of the game. A cross from the left wasn’t cleared and after bobbling around in the area, Luke Aldrich managed to turn and hammer the ball low past Harry Moss.

Spurred on by the goal, the home side almost doubled their lead two minutes later as Luke Mangham sent a volley fizzing towards goal from 20 yards, but it was just wide.

Consett began to settle and enjoy more possession, but both sides were struggling to really make anything happen on a pitch that could charitably be described as difficult.

Jake Orrell did have a firm strike at goal from 20 yards that was straight at home keeper Mikey Roxburgh, while at the other end Aldrich almost turned provider as he held the ball up well and played in Nathan Modest, who shot wide.

The main talking point of the half arrived on 38 minutes as David Allasan whipped in a beautiful cross from the right which Donny Holdsworth looked destined to volley home from close range before seemingly being clipped from behind, but the referee waved away the appeals.

The Steelmen finished the half strongly, forcing a succession of corners, but they couldn’t capitalize and went into the break a goal down.

Half-time: Sheffield 1 Consett 0

The second half started in the same vein as much of the first half, with Consett enjoying plenty of possession but struggling to make much headway.

Walker was introduced and he almost had an immediate impact on the hour mark as he turned his man, and while his shot beat Roxburgh, a covering defender got back to clear off the line.

The visitors continued to probe but were hit by a sucker punch on 72 minutes as Sheffield broke down their left and a cross was deftly turned home by Luke Aldrich from six yards for his second of the game.

It really looked like it wasn’t going to be Consett’s day as they continued to huff and puff, but with the home centre-back pairing of Connor Cutts and Bradley Beatson enjoying strong games, they couldn’t create any chances.

However, five minutes from time they were gifted a route back into the game with one of the strangest goals of the season. Sheffield had put the ball out of play to allow an injured player to be treated, and from the restart Consett duly played the ball back to home keeper Roxburgh, who met the ball just outside of his penalty area.

The Consett players initially stood off, waiting for the keeper to either clear the ball or take it back into his area and pick it up, but he took so long over it – presumably to use up as much time as possible – that Consett felt entitled to challenge for the ball.

Donny Holdsworth duly nipped in and took possession before rolling the ball into the empty net. Sheffield were furious, although their anger seemed to be evenly split between Holdsworth and their own keeper.

Five minutes of added time were signalled and two minutes into it Consett had another penalty shout as a bouncing ball seemed to strike a Sheffield arm which was high and outstretched, but again referee Robert Pealing waved play on and Sheffield saw the rest of the game out in relative comfort.

The result saw Sheffield move to within a point of the sides immediately above them at the bottom, while Consett remain 12th, but now only six points above the final relegation place.
MATCH REPORT: ANDY BALL