Tag: charlie exley

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.

Callum’s the Guy as Consett start the season with a win over Seaham

Consett got their Northern League campaign off to a winning start today, beating a dogged Seaham Red Star 3-1 at Belle View Stadium.

Wearing their new red and black away kit, the Steelmen gave debuts to two of their new signings, left-back Charlie Exley and midfielder Callum Guy.

Both did well, and Guy turned out to be one of the key men in the game, which saw Consett take the lead, pegged back, then take three points with an impressive second-half display.

They opened the scoring in the 26th minute when Carl Lawson took Calvin Smith’s crossfield ball down on his chest, turned, and smashed an unstoppable effort in off the bar from 22 yards, pictured below.

The lead didn’t last long, however, as Seaham equalised two minutes later, with right-back Jordan Patterson getting on the end of Lee Kerr’s cross to glance in a header.

Six minutes before half-time Consett almost restored their lead, when Jake Orrell played in Luke Carr, whose dinked effort was saved by Seaham keeper Andrew Jennison, and centre-back Max Nelson cleared the loose ball before Dale Pearson could take advantage.

It remained 1-1 at the break, and the Steelmen were grateful to keeper Kyle Hayes for saving with his feet from Adam Lennox in the 52nd minute.

Nine minutes later Consett regained the lead with a fine goal. Guy started the move in midfield, spraying the ball out wide for Pearson.

The No.9 made for the byline before pulling the ball back for Callum Guy, who had continued his run into the box, to finish from 10 yards, firing into the roof of the net for 2-1, pictured below.

Consett’s tails were up, and Pearson and Exley both had chances to increase the lead before they scored a third goal to clinch the game in the 79th minute.

This time Guy returned the favour for Dale Pearson, setting up the striker to score from eight yards after seeing the Seaham keeper save his initial effort.

The final scoreline could have been more. Jennison made an excellent save from Orrell, who burst clean through after robbing Kerr in midfield, and sub Dan Marriott curled an effort just wide after Orrell turned provider.

But manager Terry Mitchell was happy enough to get three points on the board, ahead of a week in which his side faces two tricky away games, in the league at Northallerton on Wednesday, then the FA Cup at Whickham on Friday.

  • Full match report and more pictures HERE.
blyth town

New boys shine in the sun as Consett beat Blyth Town

Consett’s new signings shone today as the Steelmen won their latest friendly, beating Blyth Town 6-2 in their latest friendly at a sun-drenched Belle View Stadium.

All six goals against the Northern League newcomers came from players who have been added to Terry Mitchell’s squad since the end of last season.

Consett got off to the best possible start, taking the lead after three minutes when Callum Guy picked up the ball 25 yards out and drilled it into the bottom corner to make it 1-0, pictured below.

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Callum Guy’s strike makes it 1-0 to Consett. Pic by Gary Welford.

But Blyth, who will be making their 2nd Division debut this season, responded well, equalising on seven minutes when Jack Fennell touched home a cross from the left.

Midway through the half, with temperatures reaching a sweltering 27C, there was the unusual sight of the referee halting play so the players and officials could have a much-needed drinks break.

The game had hardly had the chance to settle when Consett regained the lead on 27 minutes. Jake Orrell’s excellent ball saw Stephen Callen beat a defender and the keeper to the ball, pictured top. His effort came back off the post, but he followed it in to tap home from no more than a foot out.

Incredibly, within a minute Blyth had levelled again, when another move down the left saw Adam Johnson slide in to finish from close range at the second attempt.

Consett took the lead for the third time on 34 minutes, when another Orrell pass was helped on, and Callum Guy ran through to lob the keeper for his second of the game, the ball going in off the underside of the bar.

blyth town
Callum Guy dinks the ball over the keeper to make it 3-2 to Consett. Pic by Gary Welford.

Half-time was reached with the score at 3-2, and Consett made their usual raft of changes for the second half, including a first pre-season appearance for Luke Carr.

In the 51st minute Consett were awarded a penalty after Drew Lake was sent tumbling in the box, but Blyth’s sub keeper read Carr’s kick well and saved down at his right-hand post.

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Drew Lake is sent tumbling and Consett are awarded a penalty. Pic by Gary Welford.

The Steelmen didn’t have to wait long to extend their lead, however, as a minute later Charlie Exley played the ball in to Stephen Callen, who smashed home a great strike from the edge of the box to make it 4-2.

In the 56th minute Exley turned provider again with an excellent cross from the left to pick out a trialist striker, who fired home first time with his left foot.

On 62 minutes it was Callen’s turn to be the provider, when his clever lay-off set up Charlie Exley to fire home from 15 yards to make it 6-2.

blyth town
Charlie Exley made it 6-2 with this left-footed strike. Pic by Gary Welford.

Another water break midway through the half gave some fresh impetus to tiring legs, and the trialist striker and Dan Marriott went close to adding to Consett’s tally, but at the final whistle the score was 6-2.

  • Consett’s next pre-season friendly is on Tuesday, when they visit the 1st Cloud Arena to take on Northern Premier League side South Shields. Kick-off is 7.30pm, and admission is payable at the turnstiles.