Report

Consett’s eight-game unbeaten run came to an end at the hands of play-off challengers Emley.

The sides shared six goals earlier in the season, with Emley squandering a three-goal lead, but a repeat never looked on the cards.

Manager Jason Miller named a side containing two changes to the one which had drawn at Newton Aycliffe, with Brendon Daniels and Lewis Leech coming in for Liam Colledge and Calvin Smith, but he was forced into another when Michael Ledger pulled up in the warm-up.

This meant Colledge returning to the starting line-up and a place on the bench for Jake Dobinson, who had completed his four-match suspension following his sending-off at Blyth Spartans.

Emley had a chance inside the first two minutes when they won a right-wing corner, and Joe Stacey’s kick found centre-back Charlie Barks, who couldn’t direct his header goalwards.

At the other end Consett’s top scorer Isaac Walker crafted a chance for himself, cutting in from the left wing, but his well-struck effort cleared the bar by a foot.

The third-placed visitors took the lead on seven minutes when Charlie Barks scored with a close-range header from another Stacey corner as Consett failed to learn from the earlier let-off.

The lively Gabriel Johnson had two chances to increase their lead; on 16 minutes his header from another Stacey corner was cleared off the line by Lewis Leech, then on the half-hour keeper Harry Moss stood up well to save with his feet in a one-on-one after Bailey Thompson played him in.

Consett started to threaten themselves, forcing a succession of corners, and they got a deserved leveller on 39 minutes, when Matty Todd seized on a poor defensive header to drill a low shot into the far corner for his ninth goal of the season.

Half-time: Consett 1 Emley 1

Emley started the second half well, and Kurtis Turner had a chance, which he fired wide, but they regained the lead 10 minutes in when Ellis Farrar fired home after Stacey’s long throw caused chaos in the home box.

Skipper Charlie Exley headed just over from Brendon Daniels’ free-kick as Consett sought another equaliser, and the next goal was clearly vital.

Unfortunately it was Emley who got in the 75th minute as they won possession in their own half and counter-attacked quickly. Johnson and Stacey combined well to give Bailey Thompson a tap-in.

Sub Ben Ramsey hit a couple of efforts well off target as Consett sought a way back into the game, but Emley showed why they have the division’s meanest defence by shutting up shop.

It could have been four when the visitors were awarded a penalty in the final minute after Will Constantin was judged to have tripped an opponent, but sub Manassa Mampala dragged his kick wide.
MATCH REPORT: GARY WELFORD
PICTURES: KEITH MARLEY & KENNY TAYLOR