Report

Summer signing Ben Ramsey introduced himself to Consett fans in style as the Steelmen won their second pre-season friendly, beating Shildon 6-1.

The pacey wide man scored twice and had a hand in another goal as Tony Fawcett’s side derailed the Railwaymen’s preparations for life back in the Northern League.

The two teams were rivals in the Northern Premier League Division One East last season, but while Consett finished 13th, Shildon were relegated.

The hosts included three ex-Consett players in their line-up at Dean Street – goalkeeper Mark Foden, midfielder Shaun Ryder and forward Andrei Ardelean.

It was Ardelean who had the first chance of the game after two minutes, but couldn’t direct his header from a right-wing cross on target.

Ramsey had Consett’s first chance a couple of minutes later, and brought a smart save from Foden. Zak Atkinson, making his comeback from the injury which caused him to miss the end of last season, then just failed to connect with Josh Baggs’ ball in from the right.

Alex White had a great chance for Shildon on 15 minutes when a free-kick picked out his run to the back post, but he put his header wide.

Consett took the lead on 28 minutes when a trialist striker robbed Shildon’s last defender of possession and drove into the penalty area, keeping his cool to fire past Foden for 1-0.

On 35 minutes it was 2-0 when Baggs went on another surging run down the left and crossed for Ben Ramsey to finish at close range, pictured below, on his first appearance for the club.

And right on half-time Consett made it 3-0 when good work by Adam Mitchell and Ramsey sent Jake Orrell down the left flank, and his low cross was diverted past his own keeper by Alex White.

Half-time: Shildon 0 Consett 3

Consett made a raft of changes at half-time, with only Baggs and Ramsey remaining from the side which started the game, and on 52 minutes Ben Ramsey had a second goal when Orrell’s pass picked out his run through the middle and he finished with aplomb.

Shildon pulled a goal back on 57 minutes with a superb 25-yard free-kick from Jon Weirs, which curled into the top corner, giving Consett’s trialist second-half keeper no chance.

But on 75 minutes the visitors’ four-goal lead was restored when Dan Capewell, deployed in a forward role after coming back on as a sub, robbed Foden of possession as he dallied with the ball at his feet and blasted the ball into the empty net for 5-1.

It was Foden’s last involvement, as he was substituted straight after the goal, but his replacement almost conceded in similar fashion, only for a defender to deny Capewell at the expense of a corner.

From the resulting flag-kick the sub keeper somehow kept out a thunderous header from Ryan McKinnon, pushing the ball up and onto the top of the bar.

But there was nothing he could do about the sixth goal in the 86th minute, when a flowing move ended with Orrell pulling the ball back from the byline for Wil Shaw to finish from six yards for his second goal in two games.

 

* Consett’s next pre-season fixture is on Saturday 15 July, when they entertain West Auckland Town in a 3pm KO at Belle View Stadium.

SHILDON: Line-up not known.

CONSETT (1st Half): 1 Aaron Steavens, 2 Trialist A, 3 Josh Baggs, 4 Calvin Smith, 5 Ben Milburn, 6 Dan Capewell, 7 Adam Mitchell, 8 Matty Slocombe (captain), 9 Zak Atkinson (sub Jake Orrell 30), 10 Trialist B, 11 Ben Ramsey.

CONSETT (2nd half): 1 Trialist GK, 2 Josh Baggs, 3 Harvey Smith, 4 Kaleb Young, 5 Arjun Purewal, 6 Ryan McKinnon, 7 Nathan Greenwood, 8 Wil Shaw, 9 Kieren Aplin (sub Dan Capewell 67), 10 Jake Orrell, 11 Ben Ramsey.

ATTENDANCE: not known.

MATCH REPORT & VIDEO: GARY WELFORD

MATCH PICTURES: KENNY TAYLOR