Report

A first-half hat-trick from Luke Carr put Consett on the road to a 5-0 victory tonight in their annual pre-season friendly against a CM Flooring Consett Sunday League XI.

The midfielder was in irresistible form, and proved too hot for his opponents to handle in a 45-minute performance in which he showed his undoubted quality.

Carr opened the scoring after nine minutes, firing a free-kick into the bottom corner from 20 yards, pictured, after he had been fouled.

Carr doubled his tally on 21 minutes, with a controlled finish from close range after starting the move which saw new signing Ali Alshabeeb beat his man and deliver a cross to the back post.

Nick Allen, who impressed at left-back, hit the bar after a storming run into the box in the 38th minute.

But a minute later Carr completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot after a Sunday League defender handled on the line.

Consett began with a strong side, with eight of the first-team squad complemented by three trialists, and it was no surprise that they dominated the opening 45 minutes.

They rang the changes at half-time, with goalkeeper Kyle Hayes and Matty Slocombe – who started at right-back then moved into midfield – the only players to play the entire 90 minutes.

And they went 4-0 up in the 49th minute when one of seven trialists who featured in the game sent another clear in the right-hand channel, and he slipped the ball home.

Former Consett keeper Josie Longstaff made a string of good saves to keep the score down, but there was nothing he could do about the fifth goal in the 81st minute.

Second-half skipper Arjun Purewal, who had earlier had a shot cleared off the line, headed home from a right-wing corner, pictured.

The Sunday League – who also had ex-Steelmen Lewis Teasdale, Adam Knowles and Carl Malpass in their squad – had a few chances in the second half, but found Hayes in excellent form.

After the game the Sunday League side’s captain Luke Allison presented the Terry Allison Memorial Cup to his Consett counterpart, pictured.

The trophy is played for every year in memory of his grandad, who was a Sunday League stalwart until his untimely death a few years ago.

Next up for Consett is an attractive home game against National League side Gateshead on Saturday, 13 July, kick-off 3pm. Normal pre-season prices apply – £5 for adults, £3 concessions and £1 for U16s.