Report

Brighouse maintained their 100 per cent record at Consett to pick up a vital three points in their bid to get away from the relegation places.

The West Yorkshire side had won on their previous two visits to Belle View, and made it three out of three against a Consett side who never really got out of second gear.

Manager Jason Miller made two changes to the side which had lost at Sheffield the previous week, with Liam Colledge and Isaac Walker returning in place of Charlie Exley (unavailable) and Wil Shaw, who dropped to the bench.

Brighouse came into the game in 17th place, just two points outside the bottom four, but started the game brightly. Their first chance came on six minutes, when Romario Dunne was allowed a free header at a free-kick, but put it straight at home keeper Harry Moss.

The visitors took the lead on 12 minutes when keeper Shea Callister pumped the ball forward, and Moss came out of his box to clear, but saw his clearance charged down by Danny Edwards and loop into the empty net.

Consett responded well, and right-back Jordan Patterson had a chance to level on 19 minutes, but was denied a first goal for the club by Callister’s smart save. At the other end, Moss stood up well to save from the lively Rhys Plater as he tried his luck from an acute angle.

A lovely lofted ball by Jake Orrell – making his 200th appearance for Consett – picked out Calvin Smith’s run into the box, and the veteran midfielder brought the ball down superbly, but could only watch as his lob dropped over the crossbar as well as the keeper.

Brighouse had a chance to double their advantage when their hosts lost possession deep in their own half, and although Niah Payne ran clear, he fired wide f the far post, to Consett’s relief.

As half-time approached Consett were pushing hard for an equaliser, and Walker wasn’t too far away from getting it in the 41st minute, shooting wide after a mazy run. Two minutes later the sides were level when Marc Costello’s pass again found Isaac Walker, and he cut inside before finding the bottom corner.

Half-time: Consett 1 Brighouse Town 1

Fans hoped Consett would continue their momentum and push on in the second half, but instead they found themselves chasing the game again after conceding just two minutes in, as a cross from the right found Rhys Plater unmarked a few yards out to slot home.

Just after the hour Moss denied Edwards in a one-on-one as Brighouse looked for a third goal to clinch the game, and when the action switched to the other end, Donny Holdsworth missed a great chance to level, blazing wide when clean through.

Consett rang the changes, bringing on Matty Todd, Dom Curl and Matty Slocombe for Holdsworth, Ryan McKinnon and Orrell, and Todd’s industry created a chance almost immediately when he won back possession and played Walker in on goal, but the No 11 stood on the ball and the chance was gone.

The Steelmen were pushing hard for an equaliser, and Shaw was the width of the woodwork away from getting it in the 85th minute when a wonderful curling effort from the edge of the box hit the post.

Just when it looked like Brighouse’s rearguard action was going to be successful, Consett received an unexpected lifeline in the final minute of normal time. As Liam Colledge thundered a header just over at a corner, the linesman spotted Callister had pulled Slocombe’s shirt, and after consulting his fellow official the referee awarded a penalty, to Brighouse’s fury.

Calvin Smith, who stepped up to take the kick, had a 100 per cent record from the penalty spot, but the keeper redeemed himself by saving, and his defence held out for seven minutes of added time to take home the three points which lifted them to 14th, a point and two places behind Consett.
MATCH REPORT: GARY WELFORD
PICTURES: KENNY TAYLOR & KEITH MARLEY