Tag: kieren aplin

boro rangers

Consett open their pre-season with a win and a clean sheet against Boro Rangers

Consett started their pre-season preparations in pleasing fashion with a 2-0 win over a decent Boro Rangers side at a sunny Belle View Stadium.

The visitors, who won the Northern League 2nd Division last season at the first attempt, were no pushovers as they prepare for the top flight.

Kieren Aplin hit the post with a 20-yard free-kick before Wil Shaw gave the Steelmen the lead on 36 minutes with a header from Harvey Smith’s cross, pictured top.

Second-half goalkeeper Aaron Steavens made two good saves to keep Consett’s clean sheet intact as the visitors threatened more after the break.

And Nathan Greenwood got a second goal in the 85th minute to give the final scoreline a more convincing look, firing in a free-kick via the post.

Dan Capewell almost made it three, but saw his piledriver from the edge of the box tipped onto the bar by the keeper, while Shaw saw a strong penalty appeal turned down by the referee.

Consett’s next pre-season fixture is on Tuesday, 11 July, when they travel to Shildon for a 7.30pm kick-off. Admission is £5 for adults and £3 for concessions.

  • Full match report and more pictures HERE.
lincoln

Consett secure their Northern Premier League place and condemn Lincoln United to the play-offs

Consett will be playing Northern Premier League football next season after beating Lincoln United 4-2 today at a soggy Belle View.

But they had to do it the hard way by coming from behind against their visitors, who needed a win to avoid the play-offs, while the Steelmen needed just a point to secure safety.

Manager Tony Fawcett again had to shuffle his pack, with skipper Arjun Purewal out and no full-backs available, so Matty Slocombe and Daniel Smith lined up in the No 2 and No 3 shirts.

Lincoln took the lead in the ninth minute when a lack of communication between Mark Foden and his defence let in right-back Evan Payne to lob the ball over the stranded keeper.

Consett levelled on 21 minutes when Kieren Aplin made attacked down the left and his low cross was finished first time by Calvin Smith, for his fifth goal of the season, pictured below.

lincoln

Three minutes later the home side were in front as Nathan Greenwood did well down the right flank and crossed for Danny Barlow to finish at the near post, pictured below. It was his second goal since joining on loan from Blyth Spartans.

lincoln

Barlow almost scored again with a free-kick on 39 minutes, bringing a good save from Lincoln keeper Jack Steggles at his near post, and he made an even better stop from Scott Fenwick two minutes later.

It wasn’t all one-way traffic, and the home side had a big let-off a minute before half-time when AJ Adelekan somehow hit the bar with the goal at his mercy.

It remained 2-1 to Consett at the break, and though they expected their visitors to throw the kitchen sink at them in the second half, the expected onslaught never came.

On 77 minutes Consett put the game beyond their visitors’ reach when Dan Capewell scored with a superb glancing header from Aplin’s right-wing corner, pictured below, to make it 3-1.

lincoln

To the visitors’ credit they didn’t lie down, and after missing a couple of chances they reduced the arrears through Shane Clarke on 81 minutes.

With Consett defending a 3-2 lead there were one or two nervous gulps when the officials signalled six minutes of added time at the end of the game.

But the last word went to Consett, as good work by Fenwick and Calvin Smith set up Scott Jasper to complete the scoring with his first goal for the club in the 94th minute.

lincoln

This result, combined with others, means Consett finish a creditable 13th in their first season in the Northern Premier League, with Carlton Town joining Lincoln in the play-off positions, and Shildon occupying the second relegation place despite winning at Grimsby Borough.

  • Full match report and more pictures to follow.

At the other end of the table, Hebburn secured third place, joining second-placed Stockton in the play-offs, though Dunston missed out after their defeat at Carlton. Long Eaton United and Stocksbridge Park Steels are the other play-off clubs.

The other final-day results in full are:

Bridlington Town 1 Stocksbridge Park Steels 0

Carlton Town 2 Dunston 0

Grimsby Borough 2 Shildon 3

Hebburn Town 3 Cleethorpes Town 1

Long Eaton United 3 Brighouse Town 0

North Shields 2 Worksop Town 3

Ossett United 0 Grantham Town 0

Sheffield 2 Stockton Town 1

Tadcaster Albion 0 Pontefract Collieries 4

stockton

Consett lose out to promotion-chasing Stockton Town in seven-goal Easter Monday thriller

Consett’s bid to secure Northern Premier League football next season goes on after they lost 4-3 to high-flying Stockton Town in a thrilling game at Belle View today.

Continue reading “Consett lose out to promotion-chasing Stockton Town in seven-goal Easter Monday thriller” →
long eaton

Consett’s problems pile up after a home defeat by in-form Long Eaton United

Consett slumped to their third defeat in their last four games at the hands of the division’s most in-form side.

Long Eaton United had won their last five games, and made it six in a row with a convincing win at a chilly Belle View.

Manager Tony Fawcett was again without a host of players, even though he welcomed back Ross Coombe, Josh Baggs and Jake Orrell.

With Mark Foden joining Calvin Smith and Matty Slocombe on the sidelines through suspension, and Charlie Exley added to a long-term injury list which already included Kieren Aplin, Zak Atkinson, Karl Byrne and Mark McLeod, the Steelmen were again missing eight players.

This meant places on the bench for two new signings, the unattached Henry Dorward, who has previously played for Whitley Bay and Sunderland RCA, and Nathan Lawrence, who’s rejoined Consett for a third spell from RCA.

The visitors started well, and their top scorer Jamie Walker had a chance to put them ahead on three minutes after beating the offside trap, but was denied by a fine double save by Coombe.

On-loan Blyth Spartans midfielder Danny Barlow almost gave Consett the lead on seven minutes when Jake Orrell’s pass sent him through on goal, but Sam Wilson saved at his feet, pictured top.

A minute later the keeper denied Barlow again when he cut in from the right and fired goalwards, saving down low at his near post.

Long Eaton took the lead on 10 minutes when wing-back Ashaiah Fearon, on loan from Notts County, flicked the ball on for Tom Cursons, who ran through on goal, despite strong Consett appeals for handball, and slotted home.

Consett suffered a big blow on 18 minutes when Dan Capewell, one of their outstanding players this season, limped off with a hamstring injury.

Consett centre-back Dan Capewell goes down with a hamstring injury.

The reshuffle which followed saw skipper Arjun Purewal move from left-back to centre-back, Adam Mitchell switch from midfield to left-back, and Dorward come into the middle for his debut.

On 21 minutes Long Eaton went close to doubling their lead when Fearon cut in from the right and got off a show which hit the outside of the post.

Seven minutes later they were awarded a free-kick 22 yards out and Tom Marshall sent a curling effort not too far wide of the left-hand post.

Two minutes before the break Jake Orrell had a chance for Consett, but Wilson made a comfortable save down low, and right on half-time Mitchell’s cross from the left found Dorward, who couldn’t steer his header on target.

Half-time: Consett 0 Long Eaton United 1

Consett’s teenage striker Oscar Taylor had looked an isolated figure up front at times, so it was little surprise when Scott Fenwick, despite not being fully fit, came on for the second half in place of midfielder Daniel Smith.

Five minutes into the second half the Steelmen had a chance to level when excellent work by Orrell saw him get to the byline and set up Taylor, but the No 9’s flicked effort was blocked, as was Fenwick’s follow-up.

It was a bright start to the half, but on 58 minutes it was 2-0 to Long Eaton when Cursons drilled the ball across goal from the left for Alex Marshall to finish from close range.

Mitchell had a chance to score his first goal for the club just before the hour when he arrived late at the back post, but was leaning back as he struck his shot and it ballooned over the bar.

A few minutes later Dorward had a chance to make his mark when he was played in, but he shot straight at the keeper from 20 yards when he maybe had time to take a touch and get closer to goal.

Henry Dorward had a chance to make his mark on his debut.

Long Eaton were making plenty of half-chances, and sub Jack Rogers had a clear opportunity to increase their lead on 71 minutes, but screwed his effort wide.

Orrell was at the centre of most of Consett’s good moves, and on 75 minutes his cross picked out Fenwick, but the big striker was stretching to meet the ball, and headed just over the bar.

Three minutes later Long Eaton ended any faint hopes of a Consett comeback when they scored a third goal. The home side failed to deal with Larell King’s long throw, and Ashaiah Fearon lashed the ball into the roof of the net.

Consett’s response was to throw on another substitute, with Reserves captain Kieran Scott coming on for Taylor for his first-team debut.

Consett Reserves captain Kieran Scott made his first-team debut.

And although Consett huffed and puffed, with the impressive Barlow firing into the side netting from 20 yards, they couldn’t muster a consolation goal to give the final scoreline a less brutal look.

What they did pick up was a last-minute yellow card for Ben Milburn, which takes him to 10 bookings for the season and a two-game suspension.

pontefract

Consett make it three wins in a row by beating Pontefract Collieries

Consett made it three wins in a row for the first time since they joined the Northern Premier League by beating Pontefract Collieries 3-1 at a freezing, windy Belle View today.

The game was preceded by a minute’s applause in memory of Consett supporter Darren Blakey, who died this week.

And the Steelmen put on a performance he would have loved as they sent their visitors back to Yorkshire on the end of a defeat.

Pontefract had the strong wind at their back in the first half, and had early chances through Joe Lumsden and Jack Vann.

Jake Orrell missed a one-on-one with the keeper before Consett took the lead in the 19th minute, with Kieren Aplin firing into the bottom corner, pictured below, after turning his man. It was his sixth goal of the season, making him joint second-top scorer with Orrell.

Kieren Aplin gives Consett the lead against Pontefract Collieries. Pic: Gary Welford.

Within a minute the visitors were level when Jack Greenhaugh’s long throw was only half-cleared and Spencer Clarke made it 1-1.

On 25 minutes Aplin thought he had a good shout for a penalty when he turned Clarke and appeared to be tripped, but the referee thought otherwise and booked him for diving.

Kieren Aplin appealed for a penalty for this challenge. The referee said he dived. Pic: Gary Welford.

Half-time was reached with the score still at 1-1, and the first 25 minutes of the second half were something of a non-event as both sides struggled to cope with the strengthening wind.

But Consett began to get on top, and took a deserved lead in the 72nd minute. They were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box for a foul on Aplin.

He took the kick himself, and keeper Lloyd Allinson made a good save, touching the ball onto the post, but defender Josh Baggs reacted quickest to turn it home from six yards out, for his first goal for the club.

pontefract
Josh Baggs scores his first Consett goal to make it 2-1. Pic: Stephen Finch.

Three minutes later the points were in the bag as Aplin’s pass found Calvin Smith, who turned and smashed the ball past Allinson from 15 yards. It was his first goal of the season.

  • Full match report and more pictures to follow.

stockton

Consett give their fans some festive cheer with an excellent win at second-placed Stockton

Consett brought their long winless run to an end today with an excellent 2-1 away win at high-flying Stockton Town.

The hosts were second in the table at the start of play, but Tony Fawcett’s Steelmen executed their game-plan perfectly to head home with three fully-deserved points.

It was his first win since taking over as manager, and the club’s first win in 14 games – the last coming in the 1-0 success at Lincoln United on 17 September, exactly 100 days ago.

Consett were without four players, including top scorer Zak Atkinson, but took the lead in the 13th minute against the run of play.

The ball was fed out wide to Charlie Exley on the left, and he swung in a superb cross for Scott Fenwick. The No 9 failed to get a touch under challenge from a defender, but the ball hit Stockton left-back Danny McWilliams on the side of the head, pictured below, and ended up in the net for an own goal.

stockton
The ball goes in off Stockton left-back Danny McWilliams to give Consett the lead. Pic: Gary Welford

The visitors had keeper Mark Foden to thank for preserving their lead in the 17th minute when he made a good diving save from Tom Portas.

But unfortunately the keeper was at fault for Stockton’s equaliser in the 32nd minute. He spilled the ball after collecting a cross in the six-yard box, and Stephen Thompson was on hand to fire home the loose ball.

Consett almost regained their lead right on half-time as centre-back Ben Milburn had an effort cleared off the line right, but it remained 1-1 at the break.

Stockton had dominated possession in the opening 45 minutes without creating too many chances, but the second half saw Consett much more on the front foot.

On 54 minutes a pinpoint cross from Jake Orrell picked out Fenwick, and the big striker was disappointed not to get his header on target.

Midway through the half Calvin Smith volleyed just wide after good work by sub Kieren Aplin, while Stockton dangerman Kevin Hayes went close at the other end with a fizzing drive.

But it was Consett who got what turned out to be the winner on 76 minutes when Fenwick flicked the ball on for Kieren Aplin to run onto and fire home for his fifth goal of the season, pictured below.

stockton
Kieren Aplin fires home the winner as Consett win 2-1 at Stockton. Pic: Gary Welford.

Stockton tried all they could to get on level terms again, but failed to trouble Foden again as Consett’s defence and midfield stood firm.

Consett had a chance to seal the points in added time when Fenwick, who led the line impressively all afternoon, sent Aplin clear again with a perfectly-weighted pass. But this time the midfielder missed the target as he tried to place his shot inside the post.

It mattered not, as the Steelmen held firm without conceding any further chances, to see out their first win at Stockton since 2018.

  • Full match report and more pictures to follow.

grimsby borough

Consett pick up a good point in a battling draw at Grimsby Borough

Consett were denied a first win in 13 games when they conceded a late equaliser to draw 2-2 at Grimsby Borough today.

The Steelmen were missing nine players, but made light of it with a battling performance against a side who are unbeaten in their last seven games.

After a dour first half, the home side took the lead on 43 minutes when George Horrocks finished at the back post from a low Tom Sawyer cross.

Consett levelled on 56 minutes when Kieren Aplin latched onto a Scott Fenwick flick and kept his nerve to finish.

They took the lead on 72 minutes when Declan Bisset’s pass sent Scott Fenwick away, pictured above, and he outpaced his man to beat the keeper at the near post from an acute angle for his first goal for the club.

Aplin missed a chance to put Consett 3-1 up, and Borough equalised five minutes later when sub Edwin Essel netted from Adam Drury’s cross.

Fenwick had a chance to steal the points for Consett at the death, but keeper Liam Higton made a great save to ensure it ended honours even.

  • Full match report and more pictures HERE.

Late leveller deprives battling Consett of all three points against Grantham Town

Managerless Consett came within five minutes of ending their eight-game winless streak against Grantham Town.

The Steelmen were rocked by the resignation of manager Andy Coyles and assistant Richie Hill on Friday.

But with backroom team Ben Cole, Gav Scott and Macauley Musgrave in charge, they came within a whisker of ripping up the form book against visitors who had only lost once in their last seven games.

Defender Ashton Hall headed Grantham in front from a right-wing corner on 14 minutes, but Zak Atkinson levelled six minutes into the second half, volleying in from debutant Josh Baggs’ cross.

On 74 minutes Consett took the lead when Kieren Aplin’s pinpoint cross was headed in from a few yards by Zak Atkinson, pictured top, for his eighth goal of the season.

But Grantham nicked a point with an 85th minute goal from full-back Matt Tootle, who made it 2-2 – their sixth draw in 11 games.

  • Full match report and more pictures to follow.
bridlington

Consett pay the price for defensive lapses as they are beaten at home by Bridlington

Consett were the better side for the third time in three meetings with Bridlington Town today – and for the third time they tasted defeat.

The Seasiders, who needed a last-minute goal on the final day of last season to avoid relegation, took their chances when it mattered to leave Belle View with a 3-2 win – the same scoreline by which they won at Consett in the FA Cup the previous season.

The Steelmen made a positive start to the game, and had a ‘goal’ ruled out for offside on 10 minutes, but two minutes later the visitors took the lead. Mark Broadley picked up the ball in midfield and beat a couple of men before firing into the bottom corner to make it 1-0.

Consett enjoyed a lot of possession as the half wore on, forcing a series of corners and creating a few half-chances, and few could argue that they deserved their equaliser in the 42nd minute.

After some good work down the left by Evan Horwood he slipped the ball to Jake Orrell, whose pinpoint cross picked out Zak Atkinson to head home from 10 yards for his fourth goal of the season, pictured below.

Consett striker Zak Atkinson wheels away after his header made it 1-1. Pic: Kenny Taylor.

The score remained 1-1 at half-time, though Consett had a let-off in injury time when a header from Jack Bulless was cleared by Ben Milburn, with Bridlington claiming it had crossed the line.

Consett started the second half on the front foot, and in the 49th minute Orrell brought the best save of the game from keeper James Hitchcock, when he unleashed a well-struck effort from 25 yards.

Bridlington took the lead for the second time on 77 minutes when Consett keeper Mark Foden came for a left-wing corner through a crowd of bodies but couldn’t reach the ball, leaving Jack Bulless with a simple header to make it 2-1.

Six minutes later it was 3-1, and again Foden came under scrutiny. Coming for another corner, this time he reached the ball, but his punch was weak and fell straight to right-back Benn Lewis, who fired it straight back past him to put Town in the driving seat.

Substitute Declan Bisset gave Consett hope in the 89th minute when his 25-yarder from Atkinson’s knockdown beat the keeper with the help of a big deflection off a defender, pictured below.

Declan Bisset’s late goal makes it 2-3 and gives Consett hope. Pic: Stephen Finch.

The game ended in controversy when, with five minutes of time added and Consett pushing hard for an equaliser, Hitchcock claimed he’d been kicked in the head by the following-in Kieren Aplin.

The Consett man protested his innocence, but the referee decided it was a yellow card, and precious seconds were wasted by the keeper’s flagrant time-wasting.

When the final whistle went the keeper’s over-the-top celebrations in front of supporters behind the goal did nothing to endear him to the Consett faithful.

This and other results saw Bridlington leapfrog Consett to go fourth in the table, while the Steelmen dropped three places to sixth, just outside the play-off positions.

  • Full match report and more pictures HERE.
dunston

Weary Consett lose at Dunston as their third tough game in seven days takes its toll

A tired-looking Consett side lost their Bank Holiday Monday derby 4-2 at Dunston today as their third Northern Premier League game in seven days took its toll.

Despite scoring against the run of play to lead twice, the Steelmen were unable to raise their game against their closest geographical rivals after falling behind.

On a day when big centre-back Dan Capewell was keen to do well as he returned to his former club, ironically it was a Consett old boy, Jack Elliott, who the visitors found too hot to handle.

Playing at left wing-back, the one-time Steelman created three of Dunston’s goals, and generally tormented his former club all afternoon.

Consett took the lead in the 14th minute when Kieren Aplin took on his man down the left and hit an absolute cannonball of a shot, which crashed against the bar.

Zak Atkinson was following in, and was first to the loose ball to score with a diving header, pictured below. It was the No 9’s third goal of the season, but his first from open play after two from the penalty spot.

dunston

On 31 minutes it was 1-1 when Elliott attacked down the left and crossed low and hard for Sado Djalo to prod the ball home at the front post.

On 38 minutes Consett were back in front, and this time Atkinson turned provider, closing down keeper James Anderson, forcing a mistake, and teeing up Jake Orrell to curl in his third goal of the season from 20 yards. His celebration is pictured below.

It might have been a different game if Consett could have reached half-time with their lead intact, but Dunston’s reply was instant, with another Elliott cross finding former Blyth Spartans man Sado Djalo at the back post to make it 2-2 just a minute later.

Consett were under the cosh for much of the first half, yet led twice, but the second 45 minutes was a different story, as they struggled to create anything of note, and were penned in their own half for long periods.

Jon Shaw struck one effort just wide, Djalo hit another into the side netting, Jake Jensen curled a shot just wide and Michael Fowler hit a rising shot over the bar as the home side turned up the pressure.

Dunston went ahead for the first time in the game on 78 minutes when Elliott again attacked down the left and picked out sub Liam Thear, who’d only been on the pitch four minutes, to make it 3-2.

And the Tynesiders made sure of the three points in the 87th minute, when Consett lost possession deep inside their own half and South Shields loanee Will Jenkins took advantage to make it 4-2.

Consett looked a very tired side at the end, and perhaps this was a game too far after their exertions in the hard-fought draw at Pontefract last Tuesday and the excellent win v Carlton Town on Saturday.

The good news is they’ve now got eight days to recover before their next game, which sees them travel to Shildon in the league on Tuesday 6 September, four days before making a return visit in the FA Trophy.

  • Full match report and more pictures HERE.