Tag: Consett

Consett denied victory by last-minute equaliser at Stockton Town

Consett came away from The Coverall Stadium with a 2-2 draw that they no doubt would have taken at kick off. There was disappointment, however, that a 90th minute leveller prevented them taking all three points against a Stockton Town side that came into the game boasting a 100% league record.

Another fine crowd of 438 were treated to a real heavyweight contest, and it was Consett who drew first blood in the 21st minute when Luke Carr dispossessed a home defender to release Dale Pearson who fired home from just inside the box, pictured.

The lead lasted until five minutes before the break when Jamie Owens created space for himself on the edge of the box before drilling an unstoppable shot into the top corner.

The Steelmen regained the lead in the 70th minute through Luke Carr who drilled a low shot home from 20 yards following good work from Ali Alshabeeb. They should have made the game safe eight minutes from time but Alshabeeb blazed over when well placed.

Stockton threw everything at Consett in the latter stages in search of an equaliser, and were rewarded when substitute Michael Roberts headed home at the back post from McWilliams’s brilliant cross.

In truth a draw was a fair result from a great game between two teams who will be there or thereabouts at the end of the season. Following the injury-time winner conceded to Newton Aycliffe earlier this month, however, Consett were once again left to rue a late loss of points.

Impressive Consett fire five past title challengers Guisborough Town

Consett came out 5-2 winners against a Guisborough Town side who at kick off sat one place above the Steelmen in third place. On a still but cool night at Belle View Stadium, the two sides served up a feast of football in a contest of extremely high quality.

The home side posted their intentions right from the off and were two up inside the first ten minutes. First Ross Wilkinson forced the ball home from close range with barely three minutes on the clock (pictured), then Calvin Smith netted five minutes later to keep up his fine goal-scoring record for the season, and make it 2-0.

Guisborough showed they were no mugs when Charlie Marshall shot home from the edge of the area. However, the Steelmen restored their two-goal advantage through Dale Pearson who latched onto Luke Carr’s superb through ball to finish coolly.

Consett led 3-1 at the break, and made it four just after the hour mark when Pearson‘s clever finish from six yards out wrong-footed the keeper for his second of the night.

Guisborough soon struck back though, with captain Mark Robinson converting from the penalty spot just four minutes later.

It was the home side who had the last word though, albeit in fortunate circumstances. Arjun Purewal made a mess of a chance from close range and ball fell to the apparent safety of Guisborough defender Matthew Lovatt. Facing his own goal, however, he inexplicably side-footed into the corner of his own net to make the final score 5-2.

The win momentarily moves Consett up to second in the table, but the Steelmen have played more games than anyone else in the top seven.

  • Full match report and more pictures to follow.

Consett batter Whitley Bay but have to settle for a point from Belle View scorcher

Consett had to settle for a point after a 1-1 draw at a sun-drenched Belle View against a dogged Whitley Bay side despite making enough chances to win three games.

The Steelmen had new striker Dale Pearson making his debut up front, and he had the ball in the net on 15 minutes after running on to Jake Stafford’s pass, but was ruled offside.

The Seahorses took the lead against the run of play in the 28th minute when a great run down the left by James Martin saw him set up Adam Shanks to score from close range.

Consett thought they had equalised in the 37th minute when Ross Wilkinson fired home against his former club after the keeper had saved Calvin Smith’s shot, but the defender was flagged offside.

Whitley keeper Dan Lister was in excellent form, and made an outstanding save from Smith in the 62nd minute, flinging himself full-length to his left to palm away a well-struck drive.

Luke had a shot cleared off the line by Thomas Graham-Bage as Consett pressed hard for an equaliser, and Lister denied Wilkinson and then substitute Joe Sloan from close range.

Consett got the goal their pressure deserved in the 74th minute when Darren Holden’s shot crashed back off the post, and Calvin Smith smashed home the rebound, pictured, for his fourth goal of the season.

More chances came and went as Consett pushed for a winner, but the Bay defence and keeper laid their bodies on the line to take home a point.

Consett make it six points from two games by edging close game at Newcastle Benfield

Consett made it two wins from their opening two games with a 3-2 success at Newcastle Benfield tonight.

Captain Arjun Purewal gave the Steelmen the lead in the 18th minute when he powered home a header from Calvin Smith’s corner from the left.

Kyle Hayes made a couple of good saves to preserve Consett’s lead, but there was nothing he could do about Benfield’s equaliser a minute before half-time, when Dennis Knight finished from close range after the visitors’ defence failed to deal with a cross from the right.

Six minutes into the second half Consett regained the lead when Ali Alshabeeb’s cross from the right saw Darren Holden try a shot which bounced up for Andrei Ardelean to head over stranded home keeper Andrew Grainger to open his account for the club.

On 72 minutes it was 3-1 as a delightful turn and pass from Luke Carr set up Jermaine Metz, who slotted past Grainger for his first goal for the club.

Benfield made it 3-2 in the 87th minute when a quick free-kick by Richie Slaughter gave Peter Glen-Ravenhill the chance to finish low past Hayes, but the Steelmen were able to see out the game to claim all three points.

  • Full match report and more pictures to follow.

Consett’s away game at Hebburn Town brought forward due to FA Vase exemptions

Consett’s trip to face Hebburn Town has been brought forward from near the end of the forthcoming season to close to the start.

The Steelmen were due to travel to the Energy Check Sports Ground on Saturday 21 March in the fourth-last game of their Northern League Division One season.

Now, with both clubs exempt from the opening rounds of the FA Vase due to last season’s league placings – the Hornets finished 2nd and the Steelmen 4th – the fixture will take place on Saturday 31 August, kick-off 3pm.

Consett frustrated in the rain as Heaton Stannington friendly ends in stalemate

Consett are still unbeaten after four pre-season games – but had to make do with a draw in their latest friendly at Heaton Stannington tonight.

The Steelmen had the bulk of possession and the better chances, but the match at a rain-soaked Grounsell Park ended 0-0.

Calvin Smith had the best chance of the first half, but his well-struck effort from the edge of the box was turned onto the post by Stan keeper Jonny Ball.

Andrei Ardelean and Jermaine Metz also had chances before the break, but couldn’t hit the target, and Consett’s dominance was such that keeper Kyle Hayes was virtually a bystander.

The second half was a different story, and as the incessant drizzle became torrential rain at times, the game began to open up.

Five minutes into the second half a free-kick skidded in from the right and was cleared off the line by Consett skipper Arjun Purewal, and on the hour Hayes made an excellent reaction save from Stan sub Joe Kerridge.

The nearest the game came to a goal was in the 88th minute, when sub Michael Brown got on the end of an excellent cross from the left, only to be denied by a superb point-blank save by Stan’s second-half keeper Joe Brook.

Full match report & pictures to follow.

  • Consett’s next game is at Belle View at 3pm on Saturday, 20 July, when they take on Workington, kick-off 3pm.

Carr’s the star again as Consett come from behind to beat Gateshead

Consett made it three pre-season wins out of three today as they came from behind to beat National League side Gateshead 4-1 at Belle View Stadium.

The young Heed side took the lead on 14 minutes after a slick move down the right which saw Connor Smith’s low cross met by Mason Fawns to finish from close range.

But on 25 minutes Consett were level when Ali Alshabeeb ran on to Jake Stafford’s long pass, and kept his cool to finish past the keeper from 12 yards.

Six minutes before half-time the Steelmen took the lead, when Luke Carr picked up a loose ball 30 yards out and fired a venomous left-footed strike in off the post.

It remained 2-1 to Consett at half-time, and they thought they had a third on 58 minutes when Carr’s free-kick was headed down at the back post and a trialist finished from point-blank range, but the ‘goal’ was ruled offside.

On 72 minutes Consett did make it 3-1 when substitute Michael Brown was felled by Dabizas, and Carr stepped up to score with an audacious chipped penalty which sent the keeper the wrong way.

Then two minutes later Carr turned provider for Brown, who slammed the ball home from a pullback.

Consett could have had more, as Carr, Brown and Andre-Vasile Ardelean all had efforts well saved, but Gateshead could also have added to their tally too, as home keeper Kyle Hayes made a trio of good saves.

Read the full match report and see more pictures here.

Friday night football returns to Belle View as Thornaby agree to switch

Consett are to play a home league game on a Friday night for the first time in six years.

The club have decided to switch from a traditional Saturday 3pm kick-off on a one-off basis, in a bid to encourage more supporters along to Belle View.

The game chosen is against newly-promoted Thornaby, and it will now take place on Friday, August 16, with a 7.45pm kick-off, instead of the following afternoon.

Consett AFC chairman Frank Bell said: “We have fond memories of Friday night games against Spennymoor and Bedlington in our first season at the stadium.

“They attracted good crowds because it meant both Newcastle United and Sunderland fans could watch our game on the Friday night, as well as their ‘other’ team on the Saturday.

“We decided to try it again this season, and our opponents Thornaby and the Northern League have kindly agreed to move our game to the Friday night.

“We hope both sets of fans – and any groundhoppers in search of a match to watch – will be rewarded with a good game of football.”

Darren Holden commits himself to Consett by signing long-term contract

Popular defender Darren Holden has committed himself to Consett AFC by signing a long-term contract.

The left-back signed in summer 2018, two days before the season began. He made his debut as a sub v Guisborough in the opening game of last season, and made an immediate impact with the assist for our winning goal.

He saw off the challenge of Clark Kay and Jordan Lavery to establish himself as first-choice No 3, and quickly became a fans’ favourite with his attack-minded wing play.

He played 44 games last season, scoring twice – including the winner in our  1-0 victory at Newton Aycliffe in October.

An ex-pro, Darren played 58 league games over four seasons for Hartlepool United.

He also played in the National League for Gateshead and Guiseley and the Evo-Stik League for South Shields, as well as having brief spells at Jarrow Roofing, West Auckland and Ross County.