Consett’s four-match winning run came to an end in emphatic fashion today when they were well beaten 3-0 at Bridlington Town.
Continue reading “Depleted Consett’s winning streak comes to an end after poor performance at Bridlington Town”
Tag: adam mitchell
Scotty leads the way with a hat-trick as Consett enjoy gr-eight friendly win
Consett won their latest pre-season friendly in style tonight, beating Tow Law Town 8-0 in a game switched to Belle View at short notice.
Tony Fawcett’s team scored four goals in each half, with striker Scott Fenwick, pictured top, grabbing his first-ever hat-trick for the club.
Consett took almost half an hour to open the scoring in the previous week’s friendly between the two sides. Tonight it took just nine minutes, as Ben Ramsey’s deep corner was headed in at the far post by Scott Fenwick.
On 15 minutes it was 2-0, from another Ramsey flag-kick. This time his corner was headed back across goal by Zak Atkinson, and Dan Capewell nodded home from six yards.
Three minutes later Atkinson turned provider again, playing a super ball in from the right which Scott Fenwick finished first-time from 12 yards to make it 3-0.
Tow Law’s keeper made a good save to deny Ramsey, but there was nothing he could do about Consett’s fourth goal in the 32nd minute, as Jack Gibbons slotted in his first goal for the club, despite the efforts of a defender on the line.
Three minutes into the second half Scott Fenwick completed his hat-trick, firing into the roof of the net from six yards after another excellent Atkinson set-up.
A flurry of substitutions around the hour mark saw the game lost some of its flow, but Consett extended their lead on 72 minutes when Adam Mitchell’s ball over the top put Jack Gibbons through on goal and he rounded the keeper to make it 6-0.
Four minutes later Wil Shaw made it 7-0 when he collected the ball 25 yards out, beat his man and blasted home from the edge of the box.
The scoring was completed in the 86th minute when a Mitchell cross from the left was spilled by the keeper into the path of Kaleb Young, who had a simple tap-in for his second goal in successive games.
Consett’s final friendly is on Saturday, 29 July, when they take on Alnwick Town at Belle View Stadium, with a 3pm kick-off. Admission is the normal pre-season prices of £7/£5/£3.
- Full match report, video highlights, picture gallery and manager interview to follow.
Consett taste defeat for first time in pre-season as West Auckland snatch late winner
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 this afternoon.
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 was reached with the game scoreless, but West started the second half brighter, 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.
- Full match report, more pictures and video to follow.
Consett dragged into relegation battle after defeat at Grantham Town
Consett have been drawn into the heart of the Northern Premier League relegation fight after suffering a 3-0 defeat today at Grantham Town, the division’s second-bottom side.
Conceding two goals in the first half left Tony Fawcett’s team with a mountain to climb, and a third late in the game left them just a point outside the relegation play-off places.
The Steelmen’s side was much stronger than the one which drew at home to Ossett United last week, with Ben Milburn, skipper Arjun Purewal and Adam Mitchell returning to the defence.
But it was Consett’s failure to take three good chances in the first half which ultimately cost them the game.
They fell behind after just five minutes when Danny Barlow gave away a free-kick in a dangerous position on the right of the penalty area. McCrory floated the ball in and burly striker Gregg Smith powered home an unmarked header at the back post to make it 1-0.
It took until midway through the half for Consett to show their attacking teeth, when Milburn recycled a half-cleared free-kick to set up Jake Orrell, but the keeper was off his line quickly to save at the expense of a corner.
From the resulting flag-kick centre forward Scott Fenwick had a clear header at goal, but put his powerful effort, pictured below, inches over the bar.
Grantham almost doubled their lead on 37 minutes when a mix-up between Consett keeper Mark Foden and Milburn saw Lee Shaw nip in, but his lobbed effort bounced wide of the far post.
On 42 minutes Consett had another chance to level when Barlow was pushed over right on the edge of the box. He took the resulting free-kick himself, but his left-footed effort narrowly cleared the crossbar, pictured below.
A minute before the break Grantham doubled their lead. A quick break saw Shaw crash a shot against the bar, and left-back Joe Stacey reacted to the rebound quickest to fire home.
Being 2-0 down at half-time left the Steelmen with a mountain to climb, but for the first quarter of an hour of the second half they gave it a real go.
Fenwick hit a rising 25-yarder over the top, Nathan Greenwood had one shot, pictured below, saved and another blocked, and Matty Slocombe fired inches wide from 25 yards.
Again the misses would come back to haunt Consett, as they conceded again in the 77th minute to kill any hope of a comeback. A corner from the left saw Foden’s punch fall straight to Ashton Hall, who smashed it back past him on the volley.
There was no way back from that, and the defeat means it’s now eight games since Consett won a game, picking up just three points out of the last 24.
Wins for Lincoln United and Shildon reduced Consett’s cushion between their 14th place and the relegation play-off places to just one point, though they can take slight solace from the fact that Brighouse Town and Carlton Town – who we face in our final two away games – both lost today.
Tadcaster Albion, who lost 2-0 at home to Stocksbridge Park Steels, are relegated.
- Full match report and more pictures to follow.
Consett’s problems pile up after a home defeat by in-form Long Eaton United
Consett slumped to their third defeat in their last four games at the hands of the division’s most in-form side.
Long Eaton United had won their last five games, and made it six in a row with a convincing win at a chilly Belle View.
Manager Tony Fawcett was again without a host of players, even though he welcomed back Ross Coombe, Josh Baggs and Jake Orrell.
With Mark Foden joining Calvin Smith and Matty Slocombe on the sidelines through suspension, and Charlie Exley added to a long-term injury list which already included Kieren Aplin, Zak Atkinson, Karl Byrne and Mark McLeod, the Steelmen were again missing eight players.
This meant places on the bench for two new signings, the unattached Henry Dorward, who has previously played for Whitley Bay and Sunderland RCA, and Nathan Lawrence, who’s rejoined Consett for a third spell from RCA.
The visitors started well, and their top scorer Jamie Walker had a chance to put them ahead on three minutes after beating the offside trap, but was denied by a fine double save by Coombe.
On-loan Blyth Spartans midfielder Danny Barlow almost gave Consett the lead on seven minutes when Jake Orrell’s pass sent him through on goal, but Sam Wilson saved at his feet, pictured top.
A minute later the keeper denied Barlow again when he cut in from the right and fired goalwards, saving down low at his near post.
Long Eaton took the lead on 10 minutes when wing-back Ashaiah Fearon, on loan from Notts County, flicked the ball on for Tom Cursons, who ran through on goal, despite strong Consett appeals for handball, and slotted home.
Consett suffered a big blow on 18 minutes when Dan Capewell, one of their outstanding players this season, limped off with a hamstring injury.
The reshuffle which followed saw skipper Arjun Purewal move from left-back to centre-back, Adam Mitchell switch from midfield to left-back, and Dorward come into the middle for his debut.
On 21 minutes Long Eaton went close to doubling their lead when Fearon cut in from the right and got off a show which hit the outside of the post.
Seven minutes later they were awarded a free-kick 22 yards out and Tom Marshall sent a curling effort not too far wide of the left-hand post.
Two minutes before the break Jake Orrell had a chance for Consett, but Wilson made a comfortable save down low, and right on half-time Mitchell’s cross from the left found Dorward, who couldn’t steer his header on target.
Half-time: Consett 0 Long Eaton United 1
Consett’s teenage striker Oscar Taylor had looked an isolated figure up front at times, so it was little surprise when Scott Fenwick, despite not being fully fit, came on for the second half in place of midfielder Daniel Smith.
Five minutes into the second half the Steelmen had a chance to level when excellent work by Orrell saw him get to the byline and set up Taylor, but the No 9’s flicked effort was blocked, as was Fenwick’s follow-up.
It was a bright start to the half, but on 58 minutes it was 2-0 to Long Eaton when Cursons drilled the ball across goal from the left for Alex Marshall to finish from close range.
Mitchell had a chance to score his first goal for the club just before the hour when he arrived late at the back post, but was leaning back as he struck his shot and it ballooned over the bar.
A few minutes later Dorward had a chance to make his mark when he was played in, but he shot straight at the keeper from 20 yards when he maybe had time to take a touch and get closer to goal.
Long Eaton were making plenty of half-chances, and sub Jack Rogers had a clear opportunity to increase their lead on 71 minutes, but screwed his effort wide.
Orrell was at the centre of most of Consett’s good moves, and on 75 minutes his cross picked out Fenwick, but the big striker was stretching to meet the ball, and headed just over the bar.
Three minutes later Long Eaton ended any faint hopes of a Consett comeback when they scored a third goal. The home side failed to deal with Larell King’s long throw, and Ashaiah Fearon lashed the ball into the roof of the net.
Consett’s response was to throw on another substitute, with Reserves captain Kieran Scott coming on for Taylor for his first-team debut.
And although Consett huffed and puffed, with the impressive Barlow firing into the side netting from 20 yards, they couldn’t muster a consolation goal to give the final scoreline a less brutal look.
What they did pick up was a last-minute yellow card for Ben Milburn, which takes him to 10 bookings for the season and a two-game suspension.
Consett face tough test as league leaders Worksop Town are latest visitors to Belle View
Consett face one of their biggest games of the season this weekend when they host league leaders Worksop Town at Belle View Stadium.
Continue reading “Consett face tough test as league leaders Worksop Town are latest visitors to Belle View”
Ten-man Consett’s winning run comes to an end at hands of streetwise Grimsby Borough
Consett’s three-game winning run came to an end at Belle View Stadium today as they lost 3-1 to in-form Grimsby Borough.
The visitors arrived unbeaten in 11 games, and made it 12 with a win where they showed just how streetwise they’ve become since starting the season with six consecutive defeats.
A tight first half was goalless, with Scott Fenwick having a shot cleared off the line for Consett, pictured below, and Ross Coombe saving well from Reece York at the other end.
Calvin Smith hit the post as Consett started the second half well, with Fenwick denied a penalty as he seemed to be felled as he reacted to the rebound.
The complexion of the game changed completely in the 48th minute when the referee showed a straight red card to the disbelieving Zak Atkinson, pictured top, for a foul which Adam Mitchell had committed.
After a chaotic few minutes during which tempers frayed and the referee eventually sent off the right player, Grimsby took the lead while Consett got used to playing with 10 men.
A quick break down the right – where the dismissed Mitchell had been playing – saw the visitors’ top scorer Adam Drury exchange passes with York before firing a first-time shot past Coombe to make it 0-1.
Consett skipper Arjun Purewal had a glorious chance to level from a corner five minutes later, but his powerful header, pictured below, went inches over the bar.
The home side were made to pay when another quick raid down Consett’s depleted flank saw debutant Tyler Edwards convert from a pass by Lewis Collins.
A flurry of substitutions followed as Consett sought a way back into the game and Grimsby tried to hold onto what they had, but the home side received a lifeline in the 84th minute.
Borough centre-back Callum Lovett brought down Fenwick with a scything tackle, pictured below, and Consett’s top scorer Zak Atkinson stepped up to convert the resulting spot kick and make it 1-2 with his 10th goal of the season.
Substitute Cyril Giraud and Atkinson had chances to level, and with five minutes of time added at the end of the game the crowd got behind Consett, spurring the 10 men on for a late leveller.
Instead the decisive goal went the other way as sub Kyle Radford made it 1-3 with a strike from distance, which went in off the post.
The result saw Consett drop one place to 10th, with their next fixture a tough away trip to third-placed Stocksbridge Park Steels next Saturday, 4 February.
- Full match report and more pictures to follow.
Consett take the lead but lose at home to Stocksbridge Park Steels
Consett learned another Northern Premier League lesson tonight when they were beaten 2-1 at home by Stocksbridge Park Steels, despite taking the lead.
The Sheffield side pinched all three points by taking their chances against a Consett side who played some decent football, but were found wanting in both boxes.
Zak Atkinson gave the home side the lead on 14 minutes, pictured top, when he finished a lovely flowing move down the left involving Evan Horwood and Colin Larkin. It was his sixth goal of the season, making him the club’s top scorer.
But on 25 minutes it was all square when the visitors broke quickly from a Consett attack and pacy striker Ify Ofoegbu beat two men before burying a shot past Ross Coombe.
In added time at the end of the first half Declan Bisset brought a fine save from Steels keeper Harrison Davison-Hale with a stinging drive from 20 yards, and the sides went in level at the break.
Parity didn’t last long, however, and a defensive error in the first minute of the second half gifted what turned out to be the winner to the visitors.
A loose pass by Coombe was seized upon by Stocksbridge, who were playing a high pressing game, and Leigh Whelan made it 2-1.
Jake Orrell and Calvin Smith had efforts deflected wide and Cyril Giraud and Adam Mitchell both missed headed chances as Consett pressed for an equaliser.
Larkin almost rescued a point for Consett in the second minute of added time, but his well-struck 25-yarder came back off the bar with the keeper beaten.
The defeat saw Consett drop a place to 10th in the NPL Division One East table and means they have now gone eight games without a win (if you count the West Auckland cup game as a draw).
- Full match report and more pictures to follow.
Consett pick up a good point at Ossett – and nearly nick all three at the death
Consett ended their three-game losing streak today, picking up a good point in a 1-1 draw at Ossett United.
And they thought they had earned all three when they had a late ‘goal’ by new signing Scott Fenwick ruled out for offside.
Consett welcomed back skipper Arjun Purewal for his first start since March, while Charlie Exley, who hasn’t played in more than a year, was among the subs as he returned from a long-term injury.
Andy Coyles’ side fell behind after just four minutes to a great strike by Ossett No 9 Luke Aldrich.
The big striker took the ball down with his back to goal, took a couple of touches and fired in a shot, pictured below, which seemed to take a deflection past Consett keeper Ross Coombe.
On 25 minutes Consett had a big let-off when a defensive mix-up left Aldrich with a clear sight of goal, but this time he hit the post.
Consett came out with renewed purpose in the second half and enjoyed far more of the play.
They levelled in the 66th minute when Jake Orrell whipped in a low cross from the left and Ossett centre-back Danny South turned the ball past his own keeper, pictured top.
Fenwick came on as a substitute for Zak Atkinson in the 76th minute, and almost marked his debut with a 90th-minute winner.
Cyril Giraud’s pass sent Adam Mitchell clear, and with only the keeper to beat he unselfishly laid it off to Fenwick, who finished the move, only to see the ‘goal’ ruled out by an offside flag, pictured below.
Overall, a point apiece was probably a fair result, and one that Consett would probably have settled for before the game after three consecutive defeats.
- Full match report and more pictures to follow.
Cool-headed Dec sends Consett through in penalty shootout win over West Auckland
Teenage midfielder Declan Bisset was Consett’s matchwinner tonight when he slotted away the final penalty in a shootout to give the Steelmen a Durham Challenge Cup win over West Auckland Town.
When 90 minutes couldn’t separate the sides, who were locked at 1-1, it all came down to who could keep their nerve from 12 yards to decide the 1st Round tie at Belle View Stadium.
Bisset – at 18 the youngest player on the pitch – took the final kick, and confidently tucked it in the bottom corner, pictured top, to take Consett through on penalties.
It was a nail-biting way to end a match which could have gone either way as the two old rivals slugged it out.
But young Bisset wasn’t the only Consett hero on the night; they were grateful to Lewis Green for getting them back in the game three minutes into the second half with a neat finish after Jake Orrell’s initial effort was blocked.
And goalkeeper Mark Foden made a couple of good saves to keep West at bay in normal time, and another in the shootout.
The first half was one of few chances, but the visitors took the lead a minute before the break through ex-Consett striker Scott Heslop, who’d already fired one effort wide and seen another tipped over by Foden.
Consett were much improved in the second half, and Orrell had a great chance to put them ahead in the 65th minute when Calvin Smith’s cross picked him out, but his half-volley flashed just wide.
Midway through the half the game descended into a succession of bookings, with six players picking up yellow cards – three from each side – as the previously lenient referee lost his patience.
As the game headed into injury time Consett had a big penalty shout turned down when Adam Mitchell – playing against his old club – went down under challenge from Danni Lay, and West keeper Matty Wilkinson made a good save from Bisset.
Penalties it was then, and when both sides scored their first three you wondered whose will would break first.
It was West, as Jordan Blinco saw his effort saved by Foden, only for Karl Byrne to spurn the opportunity to put Consett ahead by blazing his kick over.
Another Consett old boy, Jake Stafford, took West’s fifth kick, which hit the crossbar and looped over, opening the way for cool-headed Declan Bisset to coolly step up and win the game 4-3 on penalties.
- Full match report and more pictures to follow.
