Tag: danny craggs

west auckland

Consett’s winning run comes to an end as West Auckland are saved by the woodwork

Consett’s winning run against Northern League opponents came to an end today when they lost 2-0 at home to West Auckland Town in their latest pre-season friendly.

The visitors, who will be one of the favourites for promotion this season, scored a goal in each half in a full-blooded Belle View encounter in front of 204 spectators.

Skipper Matty Slocombe in particular seemed to relish the midfield battle, exchanging some crunching challenges.

The Steelmen named just four of the starting XI from the game v Whitley Bay on Thursday night. One of them was Adam Mitchell, who was facing his old club, while the visitors’ line-up included Scott Heslop, who swapped Consett for West in the summer.

Consett found themselves behind after just four minutes, when West left-back Andre Bennett played in Cieran Jackson, who fired across keeper Mark Foden into the far corner.

It was half an hour before Consett had a chance of note, when Cyril Giraud turned his marker inside out and saw his shot blocked, and Karl Byrne fired the rebound wide after cleverly teeing himself up.

Danny Craggs had a chance to level with one of his trademark free-kicks in the 34th minute, but his effort from 22 yards was just too high.

A minute before half-time Leon Scott’s first-time shot from a right-wing cross hit the post, and West, who’d had the better of the play, went into the break 1-0 to the good.

Eight minutes into the second half they doubled their lead in slightly fortuitous circumstances. Corey Nicholson’s ball in from the right found Charlie Hindson, and Foden saved his initial effort well, but the ball bounced back off the forward and fell kindly for him to make it 2-0 with a tap-in.

On 64 minutes Consett could count themselves unlucky not to reduce the arrears when Byrne collected a crossfield ball, cut inside and curled a shot past West keeper Jordan Harkess, but saw it clip the base of the post and spin out, pictured top.

On 84 minutes the home side were again denied by the woodwork, when Adam Mitchell’s free-kick hit the post, struck the diving Harkess on the back, and was inching towards the goal when the keeper recovered in time to stop it crossing the line.

After a disappointing first half the Steelmen were much improved after the break, and could perhaps count themselves unlucky not to have got a draw against a very strong West team who kick off their league season next week.

  • Full match report and more pictures HERE.
northallerton

Consett continue pre-season build-up with a win over Northallerton at baking hot Belle View

Consett’s pre-season preparations took another positive step forward as they recorded a 2-0 victory against Northern League First Division side Northallerton at a baking hot Belle View.

Continue reading “Consett continue pre-season build-up with a win over Northallerton at baking hot Belle View”

On this day: 25 November 2017 – Consett come from behind to win at bogey ground Washington

Consett came from behind to win at one of their bogey grounds as they beat Washington 4-1 at Nissan Sports Complex, on this day in 2017.

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On this day: 24 November 2018 – Consett beat North Shields in a nine-goal Belle View thriller

Consett sent out a message to their rivals at the top of the Northern League 1st Division with a thrilling 6-3 win over North Shields on this day two years ago.

Continue reading “On this day: 24 November 2018 – Consett beat North Shields in a nine-goal Belle View thriller”

On This Day: 13 November 2010 – Consett prove to be party-poopers as Bishop Auckland open their new stadium

A Craig Robson thunderbolt and a Gavin Ross double kept Consett on top of the Northern League 1st Division with a 3-2 victory over Bishop Auckland, in the first competitive game held at their excellent new Heritage Park ground, on this day in 2010.

After a couple of days of heavy rain, the game only took place after the efforts of a couple of dozen supporters and club officials, who worked to drain the newly-laid field of some wet patches.

Consett made just one change from the side which had come from two goals down to beat Jarrow Roofing 3-2 seven days earlier. Gareth Powell made his debut – and what turn out to be his only appearance for the club – in goal in place of the injured Barry Poskett.

The home side – who had pulled a bumper 1,400 crowd for the official opening of the ground in midweek, for a friendly against Middlesbrough played in monsoon conditions – included three former Consett players. Graham Irving, who swapped Belle Vue for Bishops the previous month, was at centre-half, while Dan Olusoga, who had a spell as a Steelman the previous season, made his debut up front after signing from Hebburn Town. Adam Emson, who was returning from injury, was named on the bench after a late fitness test.

Three other players who would go on to play for Consett were also in the Bishops line-up: goalkeeper Peter Jeffries, midfielder Chris Bell, and a young striker called Daniel Hawkins.

Consett’s Carl Piecha in action against young Bishops striker Daniel Hawkins.

The game started slowly, with neither side making any serious threat to the scoreboard, although it was Consett who enjoyed more of the possession. However, they had to wait until the 32nd minute to register a serious attempt on goal, and it was from a familiar combination, with Danny Craggs sending a perfect cross onto the head of Gavin Barton, but Jeffries superbly denied the No 10 against his old club.

The game was starting to come to life at this point and on 36 minutes the home side almost broke the deadlock, but Powell saved well from Hawkins after he had been played through by an excellent pass from the lively Chris Bell.

Bishops were starting to look dangerous, but it was the visitors who broke the deadlock on 40 minutes through an unlikely source. Midfielder Craig Robson hit a 25-yard rocket into the corner – his first goal since returning to the club, and only his fifth in more than 120 games – following good work from Gavin Ross.

Craig Robson’s goal gave Consett a half-time lead.

The goal led to a sustained spell of pressure by Consett, and although they couldn’t add another before half-time, they were good value for their lead.

Half-time: Bishop Auckland 0 Consett 1

Bishops made a change at half-time, with Emson replacing Arran Wearmouth, and the change certainly had a positive effect, with the home team starting to cause problems down Consett’s right-hand side.

Despite this it was Consett who came closest to another goal on 59 minutes as a long clearance from Carl Piecha somehow found Ross clean through on goal, but the young striker shot straight at Jeffries.

Future Consett keeper Peter Jeffries was in goal for Bishops.

A second goal at that point would surely have clinched the game, but the let-off proved costly as Bishops piled on the pressure, and on 62 minutes the inevitable happened when Darren Atkinson made a determined run down the left and his low pinpoint cross was deftly flicked into the bottom-right corner from no more than six yards by Hawkins.

The home team were now having their best spell of the game, and pinned Consett almost in their own 18-yard box. On 78 minutes the pressure told when Bishops went ahead, with Hawkins again finishing from close range following good work from Olusoga and Emson.

There seemed to be no way back for Consett, but the gamed turned completely out of the blue on 80 minutes when the Bishops defence and goalkeeper made an awful mess of a long ball forward and Gavin Ross was left to tap into an open goal to make it 2-2.

Young striker Gavin Ross equalised for Consett and then grabbed a late winner.

Consett would surely have settled for a hard-earned away point, but three minutes later Ross again finished from close range following a cross from the right wing to make it 3-2.

There was controversy surrounding the goal, however, with the home team all literally stopping and watching Ross score, believing the ball had gone out for a throw-in before it was swung over.

The protest continued for a good few minutes, with the Two Blues’ management team led by future Consett boss Colin Myers – sprinting the length of the pitch to have their say to the linesman concerned, but regardless of whether the ball was in or out, the whistle had not gone, and Consett rightly continued to play.

The Steelmen held out fairly comfortably in the last few minutes, gaining revenge for an early-season FA Cup replay defeat by the same scoreline by the Two Blues.

Full-time: Bishop Auckland 2 Consett 3

Bishop Auckland: 1 Peter Jeffries. 2 Chris Lawson, 3 Darren Atkinson, 4 Wayne Clarke, 5 Graham Irving, 6 Steven Turnbull (sub Simon Ord), 7 Chris Bell, 8 Stephen Salvin, 9 Dan Olusoga, 10 Dan Hawkins, 11 Aaron Wearmouth (sub Adam Emson). Subs not used. Ryan Graham, Kieron Day, Mark Henson

Consett: 1 Gareth Powell, 2 Kieran Megran (sub Ryan Bell), 3 Jamie Poole (sub Anthony Lund), 4 David Scorer, 5 Carl Piecha, 6 Danny Craggs, 7 Dale Burrell, 8 Craig Robson, 9 Gavin Barton (sub Scott Martindale), 10 Gavin Ross, 11 Mark Eccles. Subs not used: Barry Poskett, Michael Coulthard.

danny craggs

On this day: 12 November 2016 – Consett come from behind to beat Guisborough, despite finishing with only 10 men

An excellent second-half performance saw Consett come from behind to beat bottom side Guisborough Town 4-1 at Belle View Stadium on this day four years ago.
 
The match was preceded by two minutes’ silence for the following day’s Remembrance Sunday, and the Steelmen started like they had a point to prove after a disappointing 1-1 midweek draw with Jarrow Roofing.
 
Top scorer Luke Sullivan had the first chance after just two minutes, but was thwarted by old boy Jamie Poole after his initial shot was saved.
 
Michael Sweet headed just over from Nick Cassidy’s cross after eight minutes, and Lewis Teasdale did the same from Sweet’s flick-on after quarter of an hour.

Consett’s Jordan Nellis goes past his man. Pic: Gary Welford.

A nip-and-tuck period followed, in which neither side created a clear-cut opening, until great work by Sullivan saw Jordan Nellis almost score on 41 minutes with a cheeky backheel, but keeper James Dawson saved with his legs.
 
Consett keeper Sam Guthrie had to be alert a minute later when Thibault Charmey’s cross picked out David Onions, but the young keeper pulled off an excellent save, tipping the ball over the bar.
 
There was nothing he could do on 44 minutes, however, when Guisborough took an unexpected lead. Another ex-Steelman, Chris Youldon, opened up the Consett defence with a great pass, and Charmey did the rest, finishing coolly past Guthrie, despite the attentions of Cassidy.

Guisborough take the lead through Thibault Charmey. Pic: Gary Welford.

Sweet had a chance to level before half-time after he was played in by skipper Danny Craggs, but keeper Dawson made another good save, deflecting his shot over the bar.

Half-time: Consett 0 Guisborough Town 1
 
Whatever manager Mark Eccles said in the dressing room during the break obviously had the desired effect, as Consett came out for the second half fired up, and levelled within three minutes of the restart.

Michael Sweet plays peacemaker between Consett old boy Jamie Poole and Luke Sullivan. Pic: Gary Welford.

Teasdale won the ball with a great tackle out on the right as Guisborough tried to play the ball out, and delivered a perfect cross to the front past for Luke Sullivan to net his 20th goal of the season with a diving header.
 
Teasdale almost got on the scoresheet himself four minutes later, when his shot was blocked after he was set up from a corner.
 
The impetus was now firmly with Consett, and they took the lead on the hour with a well-worked goal. Nellis did the spadework, Sullivan helped the ball back into the danger area, and Michael Sweet was on hand to make it 2-1, despite Guisborough’s appeals for offside.

Luke Sullivan is congratulated by Michael Sweet after making it 1-1. Pic: Gary Welford.

Three minutes later it was 3-1, and Michael Sweet had his 14th goal in 14 starts, applying the finishing touch to an excellent flowing move which started when Craggs won the ball in midfield, surged forward and fed Nellis, who unselfishly squared for the No.9 to tap home.
 
On 72 minutes it was 4-1, and Danny Craggs got his reward for his man-of-the-match performance with his 11th goal of the season. Sullivan started the move out on the left and passed to Josh Gray, who set up the skipper to find the bottom corner from inside the D on the edge of the penalty area. His celebration is pictured, top.
 
It now seemed like a matter of how many Consett would score, but the only black mark of a fine second 45 minutes happened with 15 minutes to go, when the referee decided that a tackle by Teasdale right in front of the dugouts deserved a straight red card.

Skipper Danny Craggs consoles Lewis Teasdale after his sending-off. Pic: Gary Welford.

It was the second that local hero Lewy had had this season, and cost him a four-game ban – a real shame, as he had been playing extremely well in a new midfield role.
 
Although they were down to 10 men, it was Consett who had the better chances to add further goals, with Craggs, Sullivan and Gray all forcing saves from the keeper, while Guthrie made a couple of smart stops at the other end.
 
With some of their rivals on FA Vase duty, the win lifted Consett to 5th – their highest league position of the season.

Nick Cassidy gets a foot in on another Consett old boy, Chris Youldon. Pic: Gary Welford.

Consett: 1 Sam Guthrie, 2 Nick Cassidy, 3 Clark Kay, 4 Ryan McKinnon, 5 Jake Stafford, 6 Dan Hawkins, 7 Lewis Teasdale, 8 Danny Craggs, 9 Michael Sweet (sub Nathan Lawrence 77), 10 Luke Sullivan (sub Adam Knowles 83), 11 Jordan Nellis (sub Josh Gray 70). Subs not used: Matty Slocombe, Scott Canham.

Guisborough Town: 1 James Dawson, 2 Harrison Scott, 3 Joe Ferguson, 4 Paul Roddam, 5 Jamie Poole, 6 Liam McPhillips (sub Paul Blake 32), 7 Stewart Bath, 8 Chris Youldon, 9 David Onions (sub Connor Smith 71), 10 Thibault Charmey (sub Josh Holden 77), 11 Matty Pennal. Subs not used: Ben Escritt (GK), Henri Morland.