Tag: james martin

penrith

Ex-Hartlepool pro James Martin signs on the dotted line for Consett

Utility player James Martin has become the latest player to sign a contract with Consett for the 2022-23 season.

The 23-year-old initially came to Belle View as a dual-registered player with Northern Premier League (NPL) side Whitby Town in August 2021.

He proved to be a key player in our promotion-winning season, making 25 starts and two sub appearances, and scoring three goals.

Signed primarily as a left-back, he also turned out at right-back, centre-back and in midfield, and has now agreed contract terms for our debut NPL season.

Chairman Frank Bell said: “James had a professional contract at Hartlepool United when he was still in his teens, so his quality is obvious.

“He’s also shown during his time at Consett what a versatile player he is. We’re delighted he’s agreed to stay for the next step in our journey.”

James is the third member of our promotion-winning squad to sign up for next season, after Dan Capewell and Dan Marriott. Several other senior players are already on contract.

We have also announced our first new signing, striker Zak Atkinson, with others hopefully to follow as we prepare to step up to the highest level the club has ever competed at.

west auckland

Big Dan’s goal keeps Consett’s title hopes alive in must-win game v West Auckland

A late goal from big centre-back Dan Capewell gave Consett a vital three points tonight as they beat West Auckland Town 1-0 to keep their hopes of a first-ever Northern League championship alive.

Recent stuttering form has left the Steelmen needing to win their last four games, and hope for at least one slip-up from title rivals North Shields, if they are to win the league and promotion.

And for much of the night it looked like their hopes might fade into the rolling fog which threatened to envelop Belle View Stadium.

West Auckland keeper Sam Guthrie claims the ball from a Consett corner. Pic: Gary Welford.

West had the better of the first-half exchanges, and Consett had keeper Kyle Hayes to thank for keeping them in the game, after he made a couple of crucial saves.

On 13 minutes he made an unbelievable point-blank stop from West top scorer Jordan Blinco’s header, and Dan Capewell cleared Liam Potter’s follow-up off the line.

Four minutes later Hayes denied Blinco again, making a smart save low to his left, and when the West No 9 did get the ball past the Consett custodian in the 33rd minute, Capewell again cleared off the line.

The hosts’ best effort of the half came from James Martin, whose great strike from the edge of the box was tipped over by West’s one-time Consett keeper Sam Guthrie.

This James Martin effort was tipped over by West keeper Sam Guthrie. Pic: Gary Welford.

Consett brought on Dan Marriott at half-time to give them more of an attacking threat, and he had the first effort three minutes in, but it was deflected wide.

Striker Scott Heslop, who displayed tremendous workrate all night, had a decent penalty claim turned down in the 50th minute, then, midway through the half, fired just over after turning his marker.

The all-important goal came in the 81st minute when Consett were awarded a free-kick out wide on the left. Jake Orrell arrowed the ball to the back post, where Dan Capewell ghosted in to volley home his fourth goal for the club, pictured top.

The lively Marriott looked like he might seal the win with a second goal in added time, but was thwarted by a superb tackle from West skipper Gary Brown.

Gary Brown’s perfectly-timed tackle prevented Dan Marriott adding a second goal. Pic: Gary Welford.

When the final whistle it was to big cheers of joy and relief from the Consett fans in the excellent midweek crowd of 453. North Shields’ games in hand might make them favourites, but Consett aren’t out of the title reckoning just yet.

  • Full match report, stats and more pictures HERE.

redcar

Redcar deal another blow to Consett’s title hopes after completing league double over them

Consett lost the inaugural ‘Steel Cup’ today – but more importantly saw their lead at the top of the Northern League cut to six points by a 2-1 defeat at Redcar Athletic.

It was the same scoreline by which the newly-promoted Teessiders won at Belle View three weeks ago, giving them a league double over their fellow Steelmen after our first-ever meetings.

The result tips the balance of the championship race in favour of our closest rivals North Shields, who beat Penrith 5-0, and now have 65 points to our 71, but with four games in hand.

The opening exchanges were tense, and Consett had the first real chance midway through the half when defender Matty Ridley had a header from a corner cleared off the line.

A minute later No 9 Scott Heslop looked certain to score when a Lewis Green pass sent him clear on goal, but he put his effort high and wide.

Consett did take the lead on 27 minutes, when Darren Holden’s long throw was chested down by Heslop, and James Martin fired home from 15 yards.

But the home side were level within a minute when dangerman Isaac Walker, who scored the winner at Belle View, cut in from the left and struck a shot which took a deflection which sent the ball looping over goalkeeper Ross Coombe.

Luke Carr had an effort deflected wide as Consett sought to regain the lead, and Coombe then saved well from Walker, so it remained 1-1 at half-time.

A penalty shootout between supporters during the break saw Consett triumph 4-3, with keeper Peter Lockeron saving three kicks and Sam Martin slamming home the decisive kick.

But it was Redcar who took the initiative when the game resumed, and Isaac Walker beat his man and fired in a dipping effort to make it 2-1 to the home side on 55 minutes.

Consett rang the changes, bringing on three substitutes in a bid to get back into the game, and one of them, David Dowson, pictured top, almost equalised on 77 minutes, but saw his 20-yarder come back off the base of the post.

That was as near as the visitors got to finding an equaliser, and it was a dispirited league leaders who trooped off the field as news of North Shields’ win filtered through.

  • Full match report, stats and more pictures to follow.

bishop auckland

Consett leave it late but find a way to win at Bishop Auckland

Consett re-ignited their Northern League title hopes by coming from behind to win 2-1 at a sunny Bishop Auckland.

The main team news for Consett before the game was skipper Arjun Purewal’s welcome return to the side after a two-month absence through injury.

With one side going for promotion and the other trying to fight off relegation, there was a lot at stake, and the game soon became a war of attrition.

Consett enjoyed their best spell of the opening period in the five minutes before half-time, when Colin Larkin, Calvin Smith and James Martin all had chances, but the interval was reached with the game goalless.

Bishop Auckland took the lead on 47 minutes through one-time Consett striker Adam Burnicle, a recent signing from Thornaby. He was first to react to a cross not being dealt with and prodded the ball past the advancing Kyle Hayes from 10 yards out.

The goal was wildly celebrated by the home support, but their joy was short-lived as Consett equalised on 52 minutes.

Jake Orrell floated a free-kick to the far post, where centre-back Dan Capewell ghosted in to volley the ball high into the net from a few yards out.

On 85 minutes, with a draw looking inevitable, a piece of quality from substitute Nick Cassidy with his first touch of the ball proved to be crucial.

He put a lovely free-kick into the penalty area, where veteran striker Colin Larkin beat his marker to send a looping header into the net and send the Consett fans behind the goal into raptures.

The result was made all the sweeter for the travelling support by news that title rivals North Shields had been held to a 2-2 draw at home by Whickham.

  • Full match report, stats and more pictures HERE.
redcar

Consett suffer setback after losing part one of the Steelmen’s derby to Redcar

Leaders Consett suffered an unexpected setback in their quest for the Northern League title today as they were beaten 2-1 at home by Redcar Athletic.

With the pitch at Green Lane waterlogged, the first-ever meeting between the clubs – billed as the ‘Steelmen’s derby’ – was switched to Belle View at less than 24 hours’ notice.

But there were no home comforts for Consett, who went behind early on, equalised just before half-time, only to concede again late on.

Manager Andy Coyles made seven changes to the side which had won at North Shields in the cup in midweek, but it was Redcar who took the initiative by scoring in the ninth minute.

They were awarded a free-kick on the left, which was whipped in by Lee Farrington, and Kamal Ait El Haj was on hand to score from close range. It was his first goal for the club on his first start, after three sub appearances.

James Martin and Jake Orrell both curled chances wide and Dale Pearson and Alex Francis were off target with headers as Consett responded well.

Just when it seemed like the visitors would get to the break with their lead intact, Consett equalised two minutes into added time. Luke Carr’s pass sent Colin Larkin in on goal, and the Irishman made no mistake to plunder his 12th goal of the season, pictured below.

redcar
Colin Larkin makes it 1-1 in first-half injury time. Pic: Gary Welford.

The second half saw Scott Heslop on for Pearson, and Carr forced Redcar keeper Matthew Bateman into a good save within a minute of the restart.

Larkin had a great chance on 55 minutes after Orrell found him at the back post, and although he controlled it superbly and beat his man, he dragged his shot wide.

Consett had plenty of possession, but created few clear-cut chances against a very well-organised Redcar side, who almost regained their lead in the 61st minute, but for a superb tackle by Dan Capewell on an opponent who looked clean through.

Both sides rang the changes, with the game losing some of its momentum as a result, but it was Redcar who dug out a winner in the 84th minute when Nicky Martin’s cross found top scorer Isaac Walker, who grabbed his 19th goal of the season.

Consett threw the kitchen sink at their visitors, but couldn’t find a way through, even with the help of six minutes of added time due to a couple of lengthy injury stoppages.

When the final whistle went the home side had suffered their first home league defeat in five months, but just how damaging it is to their title aspirations remains to be seen.

  • Full match report, stats and more pictures HERE.
seaham

Dream debut double from new boy Scott Heslop gives Consett a late win at Seaham

New striker Scott Heslop got his Consett career off to a dream start today, scoring a debut double to give them a 3-2 win at Seaham Red Star.

Heslop, 27, who was signed from Northern Premier League side Dunston on 29 December, had to settle for a place on the bench for his new club’s first game of 2022.

But he came on and immediately made his mark to inspire the league leaders to a vital win in a game where they twice had to come from behind.

The festive break’s other new signing, the returning Nick Cassidy, went straight into the starting XI, but the opening 45 minutes was nothing to write home about for either side.

Latest signing Nick Cassidy came straight into Consett’s starting XI. Pic: Gary Welford.

The closest we came to a goal was midway through the half, when Liam Heywood’s pass put Adam Lennox through, but Kyle Hayes stood up well to save his dinked effort.

Consett created very little, but thought they should have had a penalty on 35 minutes, when Colin Larkin was flattened from behind by Jordan Patterson, but the referee decided it was inches outside the box rather than inside.

The game burst into life five minutes into the second half when Seaham striker Jamie Clark, on loan from Blyth Spartans, curled a tremendous effort into the top corner to make it 1-0.

The lead lasted only a minute, as Consett equalised through the unlikely figure of Matty Slocombe, who buried a shot in the bottom corner from 25 yards for 1-1.

Consett’s Matty Slocombe fires home from 25 yards to make it 1-1. Pic: Gary Welford.

It was the popular midfielder’s first goal of the season, and his first in nearly two years, the last being in a 4-1 win over Ashington on 25 January 2020.

Five minutes later Consett had another big penalty shout when Dale Pearson powered into the box and went down under challenge from Max Nelson, but the referee decided the centre-back got the ball and gave a corner.

Slocombe thought he had a second goal on 65 minutes when his header from a setpiece struck the bar, bounced down and was cleared off the line by Joe Hailes. The Consett midfielder was adamant his effort had crossed the line, but the referee ruled otherwise.

Consett’s Matty Slocombe appeals, but the referee denies him a second goal. Pic: Gary Welford.

A minute later Seaham had an excellent chance when Clark was sent clear, but Hayes stood up well to save with his feet.

There was nothing the Consett keeper could do to prevent Seaham retaking the lead on 77 minutes, however, as Adam Lennox went past three defenders before finishing past Hayes to make it 2-1.

Two minutes later Consett were denied an equaliser when Pearson was ruled offside as he bundled Cassidy’s cross into the net with the help of a defender.

But on 80 minutes Consett got a goal that did count, when Scott Heslop, who’d come on for Carl Lawson, glanced a superb header into the bottom corner from Cassidy’s right-wing cross.

seaham
Consett’s Scott Heslop scores with a glancing header to make it 2-2. Pic: Gary Welford.

The game was anyone’s now, and Consett were grateful to James Martin for a 90th-minute goal-line clearance which kept the score at 2-2.

Seaham keeper Andrew Jennison saved well from Slocombe as Consett went in search of a winner, and Larkin slipped as he tried to convert the rebound

Just when it seemed like the game was heading for a draw, Scott Heslop stuck out a leg at fellow sub Lewis Green’s cross from the right to give Consett a 94th-minute winner.

seaham
Scott Heslop sticks out a leg to score an injury-time winner for Consett at Seaham Red Star. Pic: Gary Welford.

The victory means they went eight points clear of second-placed Thornaby at the top of the table, though many of the chasing pack saw their games called off.

  • Full match report, stats and more pictures to follow.

whickham

Dale double gets Consett’s new era off to a winning start

Two goals from top scorer Dale Pearson got Consett’s interim manager Andy Coyles off to a winning start tonight as they beat Whickham 2-1 at Belle View Stadium.

But the Steelmen had to do it the hard way in their first game since former manager Terry Mitchell and his assistant Graeme Coulson left for Blyth Spartans.

Whickham took the lead against the run of play in the 19th minute when Zak Atkinson converted a right-wing cross from close range.

Consett responded well, with Luke carr firing just wide, Colin Larkin forcing the keeper into a good save at his near post, and Larkin again heading just wide from Jake Orrell’s cross.

But they levelled in the 41st minute when Whickham right-back Ryan Bolton hauled down Olly Scott, and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot.

Striker Dale Pearson stepped up to take it, and calmly slotted home his 17th goal of the season to make it 1-1.

Right in half-time Consett almost took the lead when Arjun Purewal flicked on a ball into the box, and James Martin’s header beat the keeper but came back off the post into his arms.

It remained 1-1 at the break, but Consett took just five minutes of the second half to get what proved to be the matchwinning goal.

When Whickham’s keeper could only parry Orrell’s well-struck 25-yarder, Larkin was first to the rebound to square for Dale Pearson to net from a few yards out, pictured top.

The big striker thought he had his first hat-trick of the season two minutes later when he beat the keeper to a loose ball after Larkin’s shot was blocked, but he was ruled offside.

The only black spot of the night came in the 85th minute when Dan Marriott, who came on as a sub for Darren Holden just before half-time, was sent off.

He was shown two yellow cards in the space of five minutes, first for kicking the ball away, and then for a fairly innocuous foul. Sadly, the red card which followed rules him out of next weekend’s FA Vase game at Newcastle Benfield.

The majority of the bumper Friday night crowd of 568 headed home even happier when they heard that second-placed West Auckland Town had unexpectedly lost, 5-3 at home to West Allotment Celtic. That means Consett are now 10 points clear at the top of Division One.

  • Full match report, stats and more pictures to follow.

penrith

Consett go back to top spot after beating Penrith

Less than 24 hours after being toppled as Northern League leaders, Consett returned to the top spot after a 4-0 win over Penrith at Belle View Stadium.

West Auckland knocked the Steelmen off the top for the first time in two months with their 3-2 victory over Redcar Athletic last night.

But Terry Mitchell’s side, who have had a little wobble in recent games, responded with a much-improved performance against their Cumbrian visitors to reclaim their place as Division One leaders.

They went ahead after 24 minutes when Matty Slocombe threaded a pass into the path of Jermaine Metz, who crossed hard and low for James Martin to finish from close range at the back post, pictured below.

penrith

On 36 minutes their advantage was doubled when Carl Lawson’s shot from 20 yards took a touch off Colin Larkin, to take it beyond the reach of Penrith keeper Aaron Taylor.

It remained 2-0 at half-time, but Consett were grateful to keeper Kyle Hayes for two good saves early in the second half as Penrith enjoyed their best spell of the game.

Their importance was underlined on 57 minutes, when Consett made it 3-0. Martin’s long ball out of defence sent Luke Carr running through on goal, and he kept his composure to finish superbly from just inside the box.

It was a wonderful goal, but even better was to follow in the final minute, when Slocombe’s pass found substitute Callum Guy on the right, and he sent a dipping right-footed shot into the far corner, pictured top.

  • Full report, match stats and more pictures HERE.