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.
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.
