Report

Consett suffered their first defeat of their pre-season campaign when they were beaten 1-0 by West Auckland Town at a soggy Belle View Stadium.

After wins in their first two games against Boro Rangers and Shildon, the Steelmen were hoping to make it three in a row against Northern League opposition.

But West, who will start the season as one of the Northern League’s promotion favourites, had other ideas, and frustrated their hosts for long spells before snatching a late win.

Consett had a big penalty shout in the eighth minute when the lively Wil Shaw seemed to have his heels clipped by a defender, but the referee was having none of it.

Shaw had a chance on 10 minutes when he ran on to Zak Atkinson’s knock-on, but the West keeper was off his line quickly to thwart him, pictured top.

On 17 minutes Consett had their first real attempt on goal when defender Ryan McKinnon let fly from 30 yards, which the West keeper did well to tip over.

On the half-hour fellow centre-back Dan Capewell had the keeper scrambling across his goal, but his header from a left-wing cross dropped just wide.

Half-time: Consett 0 West Auckland Town 0

West started the second half brighter, creating chances for Cieran Jackson and Josh Scott, and on 57 minutes Consett made wholesale changes, bringing on six substitutes.

They hadn’t had a chance to settle into the game when West had a chance to take the lead, when Jordan Blinco ran through on goal, but Aaraon Steavens did well to save.

 

The let-off spurred a good Consett reaction as Calvin Smith saw a 25-yarder pushed away by the West keeper, and then good work by a trialist striker set up Adam Mitchell, who fired wide from a similar distance.

The Steelmen just couldn’t find a way through the West defence, however, and the visitors snatched a winner on 81 minutes when ex-Consett player Lee Hume cut the ball back for Cieran Jackson to finish from close range.

Consett’s next friendly is on Tuesday 18 July, when they entertain Newcastle Benfield at Belle View Stadium, kick-off 7.30pm.

CONSETT: 1 Aaron Steavens, 2 Harvey Smith(sub Josh Baggs 57), 3 Arjun Purewal, 4 Matty Slocombe (captain) (sub Calvin Smith 57), 5 Ryan McKinnon, 6 Dan Capewell, 7 Wil Shaw (sub Adam Mitchell 57), 8 Kaleb Young (sub Jake Orrell 57), 9 Zak Atkinson (sub Scott Fenwick 57), 10 Nathan Greenwood, 11 Ben Ramsey (sub trialist striker).

WEST AUCKLAND TOWN: 1 Trialist, 2 Lee Hume, 3 Max Booth, 4 Liam Potter, 5 Ben Dale, 6 Charlie Wood, 7 Cieran Jackson, 8 Jake Stafford, 9 Josh Scott, 10 Josh Gillies (sub Ryan Wright), 11 Jordan Blinco (sub Ellis Wymer).

MATCH REPORT: GARY WELFORD

MATCH PICTURES: KENNY TAYLOR

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS & INTERVIEW: GARY WELFORD