Tag: calvin smith

lincoln

Consett secure their Northern Premier League place and condemn Lincoln United to the play-offs

Consett will be playing Northern Premier League football next season after beating Lincoln United 4-2 today at a soggy Belle View.

But they had to do it the hard way by coming from behind against their visitors, who needed a win to avoid the play-offs, while the Steelmen needed just a point to secure safety.

Manager Tony Fawcett again had to shuffle his pack, with skipper Arjun Purewal out and no full-backs available, so Matty Slocombe and Daniel Smith lined up in the No 2 and No 3 shirts.

Lincoln took the lead in the ninth minute when a lack of communication between Mark Foden and his defence let in right-back Evan Payne to lob the ball over the stranded keeper.

Consett levelled on 21 minutes when Kieren Aplin made attacked down the left and his low cross was finished first time by Calvin Smith, for his fifth goal of the season, pictured below.

lincoln

Three minutes later the home side were in front as Nathan Greenwood did well down the right flank and crossed for Danny Barlow to finish at the near post, pictured below. It was his second goal since joining on loan from Blyth Spartans.

lincoln

Barlow almost scored again with a free-kick on 39 minutes, bringing a good save from Lincoln keeper Jack Steggles at his near post, and he made an even better stop from Scott Fenwick two minutes later.

It wasn’t all one-way traffic, and the home side had a big let-off a minute before half-time when AJ Adelekan somehow hit the bar with the goal at his mercy.

It remained 2-1 to Consett at the break, and though they expected their visitors to throw the kitchen sink at them in the second half, the expected onslaught never came.

On 77 minutes Consett put the game beyond their visitors’ reach when Dan Capewell scored with a superb glancing header from Aplin’s right-wing corner, pictured below, to make it 3-1.

lincoln

To the visitors’ credit they didn’t lie down, and after missing a couple of chances they reduced the arrears through Shane Clarke on 81 minutes.

With Consett defending a 3-2 lead there were one or two nervous gulps when the officials signalled six minutes of added time at the end of the game.

But the last word went to Consett, as good work by Fenwick and Calvin Smith set up Scott Jasper to complete the scoring with his first goal for the club in the 94th minute.

lincoln

This result, combined with others, means Consett finish a creditable 13th in their first season in the Northern Premier League, with Carlton Town joining Lincoln in the play-off positions, and Shildon occupying the second relegation place despite winning at Grimsby Borough.

  • Full match report and more pictures to follow.

At the other end of the table, Hebburn secured third place, joining second-placed Stockton in the play-offs, though Dunston missed out after their defeat at Carlton. Long Eaton United and Stocksbridge Park Steels are the other play-off clubs.

The other final-day results in full are:

Bridlington Town 1 Stocksbridge Park Steels 0

Carlton Town 2 Dunston 0

Grimsby Borough 2 Shildon 3

Hebburn Town 3 Cleethorpes Town 1

Long Eaton United 3 Brighouse Town 0

North Shields 2 Worksop Town 3

Ossett United 0 Grantham Town 0

Sheffield 2 Stockton Town 1

Tadcaster Albion 0 Pontefract Collieries 4

stockton

Consett lose out to promotion-chasing Stockton Town in seven-goal Easter Monday thriller

Consett’s bid to secure Northern Premier League football next season goes on after they lost 4-3 to high-flying Stockton Town in a thrilling game at Belle View today.

Continue reading “Consett lose out to promotion-chasing Stockton Town in seven-goal Easter Monday thriller” →
cleethorpes

Dan’s the man as Consett grab last-gasp winner against Cleethorpes Town

Big defender Dan Capewell was the toast of Belle View Stadium tonight as his late, late goal gave Consett a 3-2 win over Cleethorpes Town.

He popped up in the visitors’ penalty area in the fourth minute of added time at the end of the game to steer the ball home and give the Steelmen a dramatic victory.

The result is a huge boost to their bid towards securing safety in the Northern Premier League Division One East, taking them seven points clear of the relegation play-off places.

Manager Tony Fawcett was able to name the same starting XI as he had for Saturday’s 3-0 home win over Sheffield – something he hasn’t been able to do too often since he took the hotseat.

And his side surprised their impressive visitors by taking the lead in the 37th minute, when right-back Josh Baggs fired home a rebound after Dylan Garvey’s header from Calvin Smith’s cross was saved by the keeper.

However, the lead lasted only six minutes, as Cleethorpes broke quickly from defending a Consett free-kick, and dangerman Curtis Bateson beat keeper Mark Foden to a long ball and lobbed it into the unguarded net.

cleethorpes

Cleethorpes, who parted company with their manager last week, took the lead within three minutes of the restart when Consett failed to deal with a corner, and Edwin Essel finished from close range.

Consett equalised on 71 minutes when Danny Barlow collected the ball after the keeper made an unbelievable point-blank save from skipper Arjun Purewal, and curled it home for his first goal for the club, pictured above.

Just when it seemed like Consett were going to have to settle for a point, Jake Orrell floated a cross into the box and Dan Capewell was there to meet it from six yards to score the winner, pictured below, and send the majority of the 363 crowd home happy.

cleethorpes

Back-to-back wins mean Consett are now 10th, with 43 points, with four games remaining, starting at Carlton Town on Saturday, followed by the Easter Monday visit of Stockton Town, KO 3pm.

  • Pictures by Keith Marley, Kenny Taylor & Gary Welford.
  • Full match report and more pictures to follow.

ossett

Consett drop vital points after conceding a late equaliser against Ossett United

Consett and Ossett United shared the points for the second time this season as they drew 1-1 at Belle View Stadium today.

The Steelmen, missing eight players, will consider it two points dropped after leading for more than an hour and having chances to wrap up a win.

They took the lead in the 26th minute when ex-Hartlepool striker Scott Fenwick chested down an excellent long diagonal pass from Daniel Smith and finished from 10 yards, pictured top.

Eight minutes before the break they almost doubled their advantage when Jake Orrell played in Nathan Greenwood, but this time keeper Paul Cooper was quickly off his line to save.

On 57 minutes Greenwood’s pass found Calvin Smith in space, but the midfielder’s well-struck half-volley rattled the crossbar with Cooper beaten.

Ossett had more of the ball after that, but Consett’s makeshift back four – consisting of the outstanding Dan Capewell and three midfielders, kept the visitors at bay with some determined defending.

The growing pressure almost told in the 79th minute when Ossett’s lanky striker Alex Peterson headed a good chance wide.

But the visitors got an equaliser to make sure it ended honours even when sub Nathan Curtis netted from close range with three minutes remaining.

The result leaves Consett in the same 14th position they occupied before kick-off, but wins for Brighouse Town, Shildon and Carlton Town mean the gap between the Steelmen and the relegation play-off places is now just four points.

Elsewhere, Worksop Town were crowned champions with seven games to spare after beating bottom side Tadcaster, as second-placed Hebburn lost at Long Eaton.

Consett’s next game is next Saturday, 25 March, away at Grantham Town, who dropped into the bottom two for the first time this season after their game away at Dunston was postponed.

long eaton

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.

Consett centre-back Dan Capewell goes down 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.

Henry Dorward had a chance to make his mark on his debut.

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.

Consett Reserves captain Kieran Scott made 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 go down fighting as they lose to high-flying Worksop Town

Consett went toe to toe with runaway league leaders Worksop Town today, but just fell short as they tried to halt their promotion juggernaut, losing 2-1 at Belle View Stadium.

The Steelmen, who had five wins in their last six games, took the lead after five minutes when Calvin Smith hit a dipping half-volley into the corner from 15 yards, pictured top.

On 12 minutes they thought they had doubled their lead when new signing Nathan Greenwood converted from Jake Orrell’s through ball, but was flagged offside.

Worksop levelled in the 20th minute when a corner was headed back across goal by James Hanson and Josh Wilde nodded in from close range.

And they took the lead on the half-hour with an almost identical goal, Jack Broadhead finishing from Hanson’s set-up.

Greenwood missed a good chance to level just after the break, but the game lost some of its momentum midway through the second half when Consett’s top scorer Zak Atkinson was stretchered off with a serious-looking injury.

Though visiting skipper Hamza Bencherif hit the bar with a header with two minutes left, Consett almost snatched a deserved point deep into injury time when Matty Slocombe fired just wide.

  • Full match report and more pictures to follow.
shildon

Ten-man Consett hang onto their lead to complete a league double over Shildon

Consett finished their second home game in a row with 10 men tonight – but were this time able to hang on to beat Shildon 1-0 at a chilly Belle View Stadium.

The winning goal came in the 58th minute when Zak Atkinson headed in his 11th goal of the season, pictured below, from Jake Orrell’s free-kick to send the home fans in the 371 crowd into raptures.

shildon
Zak Atkinson heads in from Jake Orrell’s free-kick to score Consett’s winner. Pics: Kenny Taylor.

Calvin Smith had a glorious chance to double the lead two minutes later after Charlie Exley’s ball down the line saw Atkinson tee him up, but he put his shot wide with the goal at his mercy.

There was worse to come for Smith as he was shown a straight red card in the 73rd minute after catching an opponent high while attempting a tackle.

But a superb rearguard action saw his teammates hold out for the rest of the game plus five added minutes, to record their fifth win in the last six games.

The result puts Consett 11 points ahead of Shildon, who are fourth from bottom of NPL Division One East, in a relegation play-off position.

Perhaps more intriguingly, it puts them just five points behind Dunston, who occupy the last promotion play-off place – and the Steelmen have a game in hand.

Back-to-back wins against Stocksbridge and Shildon set Tony Fawcett’s men up nicely for their next game, at home to runaway league leaders Worksop Town on Saturday. Kick-off at Belle View is 3pm.

  • Full match report and more pictures to come.

stocksbridge

Consett get an excellent win on their travels at third-placed Stocksbridge Park Steels

Consett pulled off a superb result against one of the Northern Premier League Division One East’s in-form teams today, winning 1-0 away at third-placed Stocksbridge Park Steels.

Continue reading “Consett get an excellent win on their travels at third-placed Stocksbridge Park Steels” →
pontefract

Consett make it three wins in a row by beating Pontefract Collieries

Consett made it three wins in a row for the first time since they joined the Northern Premier League by beating Pontefract Collieries 3-1 at a freezing, windy Belle View today.

The game was preceded by a minute’s applause in memory of Consett supporter Darren Blakey, who died this week.

And the Steelmen put on a performance he would have loved as they sent their visitors back to Yorkshire on the end of a defeat.

Pontefract had the strong wind at their back in the first half, and had early chances through Joe Lumsden and Jack Vann.

Jake Orrell missed a one-on-one with the keeper before Consett took the lead in the 19th minute, with Kieren Aplin firing into the bottom corner, pictured below, after turning his man. It was his sixth goal of the season, making him joint second-top scorer with Orrell.

Kieren Aplin gives Consett the lead against Pontefract Collieries. Pic: Gary Welford.

Within a minute the visitors were level when Jack Greenhaugh’s long throw was only half-cleared and Spencer Clarke made it 1-1.

On 25 minutes Aplin thought he had a good shout for a penalty when he turned Clarke and appeared to be tripped, but the referee thought otherwise and booked him for diving.

Kieren Aplin appealed for a penalty for this challenge. The referee said he dived. Pic: Gary Welford.

Half-time was reached with the score still at 1-1, and the first 25 minutes of the second half were something of a non-event as both sides struggled to cope with the strengthening wind.

But Consett began to get on top, and took a deserved lead in the 72nd minute. They were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box for a foul on Aplin.

He took the kick himself, and keeper Lloyd Allinson made a good save, touching the ball onto the post, but defender Josh Baggs reacted quickest to turn it home from six yards out, for his first goal for the club.

pontefract
Josh Baggs scores his first Consett goal to make it 2-1. Pic: Stephen Finch.

Three minutes later the points were in the bag as Aplin’s pass found Calvin Smith, who turned and smashed the ball past Allinson from 15 yards. It was his first goal of the season.

  • Full match report and more pictures to follow.