Report

Consett were knocked out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle as they went down to Northern League favourites Redcar Athletic in the Extra Preliminary Round at a sunny Belle View Stadium.

They were 2-0 down at half-time, with both goals scored by Bradley Fewster, and the Redcar No 9 completed his hat-trick just before the hour mark to leave Consett looking dead and buried.

However, a furious fightback saw Isaac Walker score against his old club and Liam Colledge also scored on his debut, but the Steelmen from Teesside were able to hold on for the win.

Manager Tony Fawcett handed full debuts to five of his summer signings – Liam Colledge, Marc Costello, Shay Richardson, Isaac Walker and Stephen Hall. Meanwhile, Northern League pace setters Redcar, who won their first two league games, included a raft of big names who are used to plying their trade higher up the non-league pyramid at clubs like Darlington and Spennymoor.

The game started at quite a slow pace, with neither defence seriously threatened. However, that changed in the seventh minute as a cross from the left wing by Curtis Round wasn’t dealt with by the Consett defence and former Whitby striker Bradley Fewster was on hand to nod home from close range at the near post.

Redcar were buoyed by taking the lead and started to dominate, playing some lovely football. They thought they had doubled their lead on 10 minutes as midfielder Mark Anderson advanced on goal and finished past James Anderson, only to see the effort ruled out by an offside flag.

Consett didn’t heed the warning though and on 12 minutes Anderson played a superb through ball to Bradley Fewster, who gave Anderson no chance when clean through on goal.

The visitors continued to impress, with Anderson and Fewster both testing the Consett keeper from distance, though they were both comfortable saves.

The home side were struggling to create anything of note but did have a chance on 25 minutes as Kieren Aplin delivered a superb cross from the left which was inches from the head of Stephen Hall, and if the big striker had managed to connect, he couldn’t fail to score.

Consett did enjoy more of the ball as the half wore on, but whether that was due to an improvement or because Redcar were happy to sit on their two-goal lead is open to debate. Either way the visitors went into the break two to the good.

Half-time: Consett 0 Redcar Athletic 2

Consett started the second half on the front foot and were almost rewarded in the 53rd minute as Ben Ramsey hit a good effort from 20 yards which was deflected narrowly wide for a corner.

Any hopes that would see the start of a comeback seemed to be extinguished on 55 minutes as Bradley Fewster completed his hat-trick. It was a carbon copy of the second goal, with the impressive Anderson playing another superbly-weighted ball through to the centre forward, who again gave Anderson no chance in the Consett goal.

The game was seemingly dead and buried, but to their credit Consett began to apply more and more pressure on the Redcar goal. The change seemed to be aided by Ramsey and Walker switching wings, with both having much more success than in the first half.

The pressure paid off on 66 minutes as a rare defensive slip by Redcar allowed Isaac Walker the fairly simple task of shooting home from 10 yards against his old side.

The arrears were almost reduced again on 71 minutes as Richardson’s head met a deep free-kick, only to be denied by the post. It didn’t matter though as a minute later Consett got their second goal as Ramsey weaved past his man down the left and his cross was tapped home by Liam Colledge, who was still up field from the previous set play.

An unlikely comeback was now well and truly on the cards as Consett continued to dominate. Walker had another effort deflected just wide on 75 minutes, and five minutes from time Ramsey and Aplin brought good saves out of Josh Mazfari in quick succession, the latter with a fizzing effort from 30 yards which would have been a contender for goal of the season already if it had gone in.

Try as they might and despite five minutes of added time, Consett couldn’t fashion a final chance against a well-marshalled defence and it was Redcar who advanced to take on Pontefract Colleries in the next round, while Consett have a full week to prepare for their first league game away to Sherwood Colleries.

ATTENDANCE: 277

MATCH REPORT: ANDY BALL
PICTURES: KENNY TAYLOR & KEITH MARLEY