Report

Consett brought home a useful point from a 3-3 draw with promotion hopefuls Emley after a spirited second-half fightback – and could have had all three.

Jason Miller’s side, who were without the unavailable Michael Ledger and injured Calvin Smith, found themselves three goals down after a poor first 45 minutes at the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground.

Emley, who reached the play-offs last season and began the day in third place, had a dream start when they scored after just five minutes. A left-wing corner was flicked on at the near post and centre-back Charlie Barks made it 1-0 with a close-range header.

In the 12th minute the Pewits had the ball in the net again through Joe Stacey, but this time the linesman’s flag came to Consett’s rescue when it was raised for offside.

Two minutes later Emley scored again, and this one did count. Centre-forward Laurence Sorhaindo latched onto a great pass by on-loan Sheffield United youngster Archie Christie-Crainie, took the ball round the keeper and rolled it into an empty net.

Consett were rocking, and offering little by way of attacking threat, and they were grateful to keeper Harry Moss for tipping over Isaac Baldwin’s well-struck 20-yarder a couple of minutes before the break.

But Emley had dominated the half so comprehensively that it was no surprise when they made it 3-0 on the stroke of half-time. Christine-Crainie was again the architect, with Laurence Sorhaindo claiming his second goal of the game from close range.

Half-time: Emley 3 Consett 0

Both sides made a change at half-time, and Consett immediately looked more purposeful, with Ben Ramsey and Will Constantin having shots from distance which didn’t seriously trouble the keeper.

On 58 minutes Sorhaindo came within a whisker of completing his hat-trick when another pass by the excellent Christie-Crainie picked him out, and he fired inches wide.

The let-off seemed to inspire Consett to lift their game to another level, and just after the hour they were back in it. Donny Holdsworth was felled in the box by Sonny Whittingham, and Isaac Walker dispatched the resulting penalty to make it 3-1.

Ten minutes later it was game on as Consett got a second goal. Ben Ramsey picked out Donny Holdsworth with an excellent cross from the right, and the No 9’s cushioned header beat the despairing dive of the goalkeeper to make it 3-2.

The Steelmen then came close to an equaliser as Holdsworth, Brendon Daniels and Matty Todd all had efforts blocked by some determined defending in the space of a few frantic seconds as they laid siege to the Emley goal.

But on 74 minutes the Steelmen did manage to draw level, to the delight of their fans, who were gathered behind the goal they were attacking.

Emley keeper Declan Lambton beat out Marc Costello’s well-struck drive after he was picked out by a precise Constantin pass, but when the ball was recycled Ramsey swung over another inviting cross, and skipper Charlie Exley timed his leap perfectly to head in from a few yards out, pictured top.

It was anybody’s game now, and Emley almost got their noses back in front when Moss misjudged a long ball and Christie-Craine looked certain to score, but Will Constantin got back to make a superb block.

As the game entered added time, Consett were pressing hard for a winner, but all their efforts almost came unstuck when an attack broke down three minutes into the five extra signalled by the referee.

Emley wide man Stacey tried to break down the right, but Exley took one for the team but hauling him back to prevent him breaking clean through.

The red card was inevitable, but Consett’s 10 men saw out the last couple of minutes comfortably to claim a good point against a side who had only conceded three league goals all season before this game.
MATCH REPORT & PICTURES: GARY WELFORD