Report

Consett were given a lesson in finishing by play-off contenders Pontefract at a blustery Belle View after being made to pay the price for sloppy defending and missed chances.

Manager Jason Miller welcomed back Marc Costello from suspension, but was still without Eddie Thomas, Lewis Leech and Donny Holdsworth because of recent red card, and top scorer Isaac Walker through injury.

Pontefract, who were in fourth place, with Bradford PA and Dunston breathing down their neck, included three deadline-day signings in their squad; striker Michael Coulson from Bridlington, and midfielders Sam Kay from Stocksbridge and George Grumley from Brighouse.

Consett had the stiff wind at their back in the first half and had the first chance on six minutes when Will Constantin won the ball in midfield and sent Ben Ramsey clear, but visiting keeper Harry Christy saved well in a one-on-one. Ramsey had another chance a minute later after being fed by Costello, but shot weakly at Christy.

At the other end the dangerous Frankie Sinfield tested Harry Moss at his near post, Pontefract went ahead in the 10th minute when Coulson capitalised on a defensive error to set up a goal on a plate for Joe Lumsden.

Consett responded well and Constantin tried his luck from the edge of the box but didn’t catch his effort properly, which allowed Christy to make a fairly routine save at his near post.

Joe Lumsden doubled the visitors’ advantage midway through the half when Consett failed to deal with Jack Greenhough’s long throw and he reacted quickest in the six-yard box to make it 2-0.

Pontefract were full of confidence, and a surging rub by right-back Alfie Perry took him from his own half into the home penalty area, where he set up Kay for a shot, which cleared the crossbar.

Marc Costello almost bundled in a corner to reduce the arrears, but Kay cleared off the line, then fellow debutant Michael Coulson fired into the bottom corner after good work by Niah Payne and Kay to make it 3-0.

Perry hit a 25-yarder, which Moss saw all the way, and right on half-time Consett’s Liam Colledge hit the woodwork with a close-range header from Brendon Daniels’ free-kick, but it remained 3-0 at the break, leaving the hosts with an uphill battle against the wind in the second half.

Half-time: Consett 0 Pontefract Collieries 3

Seven minutes into the second half Joe Lumsden completed his hat-trick, chasing a long ball over the top, cutting in from the right and outpacing his marker before finishing clinically into the far corner.

Pontefract were running rampant, and Moss made a double save just before the hour, denying first Coulson and then Lumsden. Centre-back Ben Middleton then spotted the keeper off his line, and tried a wind-assisted lob from halfway, but was thankfully off target.

Consett were rocking, and Sinfield fired just over after cutting in from the left, and Payne did the same after a goal kick blew the ball his way. Ramsey looked Consett’s best bet for a goal, and almost got one when Christy saved a well-struck near-post drive at the expense of a corner.

Then Charlie Exley’s header from a right-wing corner was headed onto his own bar by Ponte skipper Jack Greenhough and Christy made a superb save from Michael Ledger’s follow-up.

They did manage a consolation goal in the 83rd minute when Will Constantin’s superb through ball sent Ben Ramsey clean through again, and this time he made no mistake, slotting past the advancing keeper.

Ramsey was denied a second in the closing stages when sub Ewan McGowan’s ball into the box picked him out, but his first-time shot was tipped over again by Christy

The 4-1 final scoreline was perhaps harsh on Consett, who missed several decent chances, and will feel they could have done better for all four Pontefract goals, but the healthy Non-League Day crowd of 512 could certainly say they’d had their money’s worth.
MATCH REPORT: GARY WELFORD
PICTURES: KENNY TAYLOR & KEITH MARLEY