Tag: colin mcleod

On this day: 21 November 2001 – Tiger’s return sparks a win at last for Consett, but Tomma grabs the headlines

Consett ended an awful run of 18 Albany Northern League games without a win on this day 19 years ago when they recorded an emphatic 5-2 midweek victory over Billingham Town to move them off the bottom of the table.

Included in the Consett line-up was former favourite Tony Halliday, who had returned to Belle Vue Park after a spell at Esh Winning, while inspirational skipper Jeff Sugden was also back in the side after missing several matches through injury.

The match marked the return to Consett of Tony ‘Tiger’ Halliday. Pic: John Paul Hardy.

The Steelmen produced their best form of the season in the first half as they blitzed the visitors with four goals.

They took the lead after seven minutes when Andrew Thompson’s shot was parried by Simpson, and Chris Hodgson was on hand to tap the ball into the empty net.

Consett doubled their lead four minutes later. Following a cross from the left by Johnny Brown, Colin McLeod’s header was only pushed out by Simpson and McLeod reacted first to force the ball home.

The Steelmen’s third goal came after 35 minutes when Thompson steered the ball into the bottom corner of the net.

With the visiting defence ragged Consett continued to push forward and they added the fourth on the stroke of half-time. Thompson played a fine through ball into the path of Rod Butler, who capped the move with a fine finish.

Half-time: Consett 4 Billingham Town 0

Consett continued in the same vein at the start of the second half, netting the fifth only three minutes after the interval. This time Thompson beat the offside trap and after his initial effort was saved he made sure at the second time of asking.

Andrew Thompson finished the season as Consett’s top scorer. Pic: John Paul Hardy.

It took the young midfielder’s tally to six goals in his last two matches, after he scored all four in a 4-3 FA Vase win at Peterlee Newtown in the previous game.

Just 18, he had signed from Wearside League neighbours earlier in the season, and would go on to be top scorer.

Billingham began a mini-revival after 54 minutes when Rowntree scored. Town’s prolific striker pulled another one back after 63 minutes from the penalty spot after Butler had fouled Gallagher.

But Consett saw the rest of the game through without conceding again to record a welcome win and pick up three vital points to lift themselves to third-bottom.

This game would mark the beginning of a nine-game unbeaten run in the league, but Colin Carr’s side’s relegation fears were not allayed until the very last game of the season, when they beat Durham City to ensure 1st Division survival.

Consett: 1 James Platten, 2 Gareth McKenna, 3 Ian Davison, 4 David Gray, 5 Jeff Sugden (sub Roy Gordon), 6 Johnny Brown, 7 Rod Butler, 8 Andrew Thompson, 9 Colin McLeod, 10 Chris Hodgson (sub Eddie Sharp), 11 Tony Halliday.

On this day: 16 November 1996 – Consett make the FA Cup 1st Round for the first time in 38 years

Yesterday’s memory match was one you’d have to be a good age indeed to remember, but today’s is one which many more supporters will recall.

Continue reading “On this day: 16 November 1996 – Consett make the FA Cup 1st Round for the first time in 38 years” →

On this day – 7 November 1998: Late goal wins it for Consett in FA Vase thriller at Selby Town

Just before lockdown Consett were handed an FA Vase tie against Northern Counties East League (NCEL) side Maltby Main, from South Yorkshire.

It immediately sent us scuttling to the record books for games against other NCEL clubs, and we found one on this very day against a North Yorkshire side, Selby Town.

Colin Carr’s Steelmen, who were mid-table in Northern League Division One, travelled to The Robins’ Flaxley Road ground on Saturday 7 November 1998 for the 1st Round tie. It was a ground which had once held 7,000 for an FA Cup tie against Bradford Park Avenue.

Selby were founded in 1919 and were members of the Yorkshire League throughout its existence, until 1982. For 1982-83 they became founder members of the NCEL, and by 1998 were in the Premier Division, having been promoted from the 1st Division as champions a couple of years earlier.

They’d won 3-1 at local rivals Tadcaster Albion to set up the tie, while Consett had won by the same scoreline at Northern League 2nd Division side Evenwood Town.

On paper there wasn’t much between the teams, and so it proved on grass as well, as Consett edged a 3-2 victory to give them a place in the last 128.

The home side enjoyed the better of the early stages and young keeper Andy Allen did well to keep them at bay.

Consett went ahead against the run of play on 15 minutes when man of the match Gary Cowley did well down the right to find Colin McLeod, who released Tony Halliday to fire into the bottom corner from 12 yards.

Tony ‘Tiger’ Halliday put Consett ahead at Selby Town.

It was Tiger’s eighth goal in nine appearances since signing from Evenwood – one of many reasons why he was quickly becoming a crowd favorite.

The Steelmen enjoyed a good spell, creating a couple more chances, and went 2-0 up when the keeper failed to hold left wing-back Mark Lee’s cross, and Steven Robson forced the ball home from five yards.

Allen did well to tip a powerful shot from Collier over, and Lee cleared off the line from the resulting corner to ensure the score remained 2-0 to Consett at half-time.

Gary Cowley was Consett’s man of the match. Pic: Andrew Pearson.

A late tackle cost Consett the services of inspirational defender David Gray on 62 minutes, and Selby reduced the arrears when Peter Collier fired in at the far post.

Consett almost made the game safe when Halliday had a shot saved and Robson’s goalbound attempt from the rebound was cleared off the line.

Selby were awarded a penalty when Allen was harshly judged to have fouled centre-forward Gary Cygan, and although the 18-year-old keeper did brilliantly to save the penalty, Collier followed up to claim his second goal of the game and level the scores.

The winning goal came in the 87th minute when Consett scored with the best move of the game. Kieran McGinley played a great crossfield ball to McLeod, who sent over a fine near-post cross for Steven Robson to expertly flick the ball home.

Consett striker Colin McLeod. Pic: Andrew Pearson.

Consett had to ensure almost 10 minutes of stoppage time, but held out to win what really was an excellent cup tie.

The Steelmen side exited the Vase in the next round, losing 3-1 at Mossley, who were third-top of the North West Counties League. But they did go on to finish 8th in the Northern League – their best for eight years.

Selby finished 11th in the NCEL that season, and were in the Premier Division until 2011-12, when they were relegated to the 1st Division, where they remain.

Selby Town’s Flaxley Road ground.

On this day in our history: 5 May 2001 – Consett continue their fine late-season form by making it five wins in a row

Consett continued their good end-of-season form on this day in 2001, beating Jarrow Roofing 2-0 at Belle Vue Park for their fifth successive win – their best run of the campaign.

Despite being without 26-goal top scorer Tony ‘Tiger’ Halliday, for their third home game in a row, Colin Carr’s side scored early when they took the lead after just five minutes with a fine individual goal from Kieran McGinley.

He picked up the ball inside his own half and ran through the Roofing defence before sliding it past the advancing keeper McGilvray.

The goal meant that after going 31 games without scoring, the young midfielder – who was named Players’ Player of the Year – had five in his last nine games.

Consett could have doubled their advantage after 16 minutes when Trevor Laidler set up Mark Outterside, but his shot was easily saved. Roofing showed little in the first half, with Bangura’s shot over the bar their only threat.

The game was more open in the second period, with both sides creating chances. Five minutes fater the break Roofing striker Paul Chow broke clear, and his pass gave Hague a golden opportunity, but he shot wide when he should have scored.

After 53 minutes Consett went close to getting the all-important second goal when Laidler’s clever reverse pass put Colin Mcleod in on goal, but he shot straight at the keeper.

But a minute later McLeod made up for that miss when he cleverly turned a defender before firing a low shot into the bottom corner to give the home side a two-goal cushion.

Colin McLeod doubled Consett’s lead. Pic: Andrew Pearson.

Consett could have gone further ahead almost immediately when McLeod set up McGinley, but he dragged his shot wide when well-placed.

After 63 minutes Chow created an opening for himself when he beat a defender, but Consett keeper James Platten – their only ever-present in a 49-game season – turned his shot round the post.

With nine minutes left Roofing almost got a foothold back in the game when Garrett headed narrowly over from Moore’s free-kick.

But it was the Steelmen who finished in the ascendancy, with substitute David Young shooting just past the upright after a good run, and with two minutes left McGilvray did well to keep out McGinley’s shot.

The Steelmen had three home games left after this, and draws with league champions Bedlington Terriers and Billingham Town were followed by a last-game win over Newcastle Blue Star, to extend their unbeaten run to eight games, and lift them to a final position of 10th.

Consett: 1 James Platten, 2 Johnny Brown, 3 David Hagan, 4 Rod Butler, 5 Jeff Sugden, 6 Kieran McGinley, 7 Gary Cowley (sub David Young), 8 Alan Batey, 9 Colin McLeod, 10 Trevor Laidler, 11 Mark Outterside.