Consett tasted defeat for the first time in pre-season in today’s final friendly against Morpeth Town – but will take plenty of positives from their 4-3 loss.
The Steelmen gave as good as they got for much of an incident-packed game against a team who will be playing two divisions higher than this season.
Although it was a friendly, both teams played it like a cup tie, and Consett manager Terry Mitchell will be delighted with some of the football his side played.
Morpeth, who won the Northern Premier League East Division title last season, went in front after just two minutes, when Sean Reid was allowed to carry the ball deep into the Consett half, and smashed a shot past Kyle Hayes from 20 yards.
On 31 minutes Consett levelled with a fine goal. Luke Carr‘s pass sent Darren Holden surging down the level, and his perfect return ball saw the No 10 sweep the ball past Morpeth’s trialist keeper.
Morpeth regained the lead in the 39th minute when Ben Sayer’s free-kick was headed down by Jeff Henderson at the back post, and Ben Harmison slammed the loose ball in from close range.
A minute later it was 2-2 as Consett equalised with another well-worked goal. Teenager Max Russell did well down the flank, and his cutback found Andrei-Vasile Ardelean, who fired home from eight yards.
On 52 minutes Morpeth got their noses in front again with an excellent solo goal from midfielder Ben Sayer, who danced through the Consett defence before finishing past Hayes.
Consett responded well, and on 66 minutes made it 3-3 through Darren Holden. Deployed again in a more advanced role, he advanced up the left and fired into the far corner from the edge of the box when the Morpeth defence stood off him.
The final goal of a pulsating game came in the 76th minute, when Jack Foalle grabbed the winner for Morpeth, curling a beautiful strike into the corner to make it 4-3.
- Full match report and more pictures to follow.
Carr opened the scoring after nine minutes, firing a free-kick into the bottom corner from 20 yards, pictured, after he had been fouled.
Carr doubled his tally on 21 minutes, with a controlled finish from close range after starting the move which saw new signing Ali Alshabeeb beat his man and deliver a cross to the back post.
Nick Allen, who impressed at left-back, hit the bar after a storming run into the box in the 38th minute.
But a minute later Carr completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot after a Sunday League defender handled on the line.
Consett began with a strong side, with eight of the first-team squad complemented by three trialists, and it was no surprise that they dominated the opening 45 minutes.
They rang the changes at half-time, with goalkeeper Kyle Hayes and Matty Slocombe – who started at right-back then moved into midfield – the only players to play the entire 90 minutes.
And they went 4-0 up in the 49th minute when one of seven trialists who featured in the game sent another clear in the right-hand channel, and he slipped the ball home.
Former Consett keeper Josie Longstaff made a string of good saves to keep the score down, but there was nothing he could do about the fifth goal in the 81st minute.
Second-half skipper Arjun Purewal, who had earlier had a shot cleared off the line, headed home from a right-wing corner, pictured.
The Sunday League – who also had ex-Steelmen Lewis Teasdale, Adam Knowles and Carl Malpass in their squad – had a few chances in the second half, but found Hayes in excellent form.
After the game the Sunday League side’s captain Luke Allison presented the Terry Allison Memorial Cup to his Consett counterpart, pictured.
The trophy is played for every year in memory of his grandad, who was a Sunday League stalwart until his untimely death a few years ago.
Next up for Consett is an attractive home game against National League side Gateshead on Saturday, 13 July, kick-off 3pm. Normal pre-season prices apply – £5 for adults, £3 concessions and £1 for U16s.
