Report

A second-half comeback wasn’t enough to save Consett from a third defeat in four pre-season games as they lost 3-2 at home to Boro Rangers.

The Northern League 1st Division side took a deserved three-goal lead in the first half, and although Consett came back strongly after the break, they couldn’t find a third to force a draw.

The Middlesbrough-based visitors took the lead on eight minutes when Consett gave the ball away in midfield and Stuart Rose ran through to finish past James Anderson.

Consett had a penalty appeal turned away when Ben Ramsey claimed he’d been bundled over from behind as he ran in to meet a right-wing cross.

Boro doubled their lead in the 31st minute when Callum Hickman swapped passed with Rose and finished low into the bottom corner for 2-0.

The visitors almost scored again five minutes before half-time, but Consett’s trialist centre-back came to their rescue with a header off the line.

However, it was a brief respite, and two minutes later it was 3-0 as Rose turned provider again, setting up Owen Clarkson to slot home.

Perhaps surprisingly after a disjointed first half, Consett started the second half with the same XI, and they reduced the arrears nine minutes in, as Boro defender Lloyd Evans turned Ramsey’s cross into his own net.

Adam Lennox had a shot well saved by the keeper and Kaleb Young was a whisker away from getting his head to another Ramsey cross, but it was the pair’s last involvement as Consett made wholesale changes on the hour, making seven substitutions.

Dan Capewell headed just wide from a Ramsey free-kick, and Ramsey himself wasn’t too far wide with a 20-yarder, but it was one of the multitude of subs, Jake Jensen, who grabbed a second goal in the 84th minute.

Calvin Smith won the ball in midfield and played in Jensen, who carried it forward, beat his man on the edge of the box before finishing confidently to make the final score 3-2.

CONSETT: 1 James Anderson (sub Cieran Ure 60), 2 Calvin Smith, 3 Dominic Curl (sub Charlie Watt 60), 4 Marc Costello (sub Jake Jensen 60), 5 Trialist (Liam Colledge), 6 Dan Capewell (captain), 7 Ben Jackson (sub James McGeorge 60), 8 Shay Richardson (sub Harvey Rudd 60), 9 Adam Lennox (sub Stephen Hall 60), 10 Kaleb Young (sub Wil Shaw 60), 11 Ben Ramsey.
BORO RANGERS: 1 Daniel Horner, 2 Ste Keenan, 3 Ben Turner, 4 Owen Burns, 5 James Dillon, 6 Lloyd Evans, 7 Callum Hickman, 8 Harry Thompson, 9 Stuart Rose, 10 Owen Clarkson, 11 Ash McCarthy. Subs: Charlie Rowe, James Field, Jack Lamb, Kayden Robinson-Coley, Jack Guy.
ATTENDANCE: 77.

MATCH REPORT: GARY WELFORD

PICTURES: KENNY TAYLOR