Tag: Kyle hayes

ryhope

Consett extend lead at the top to eight points with win over Ryhope CW

Consett increased their lead at the top of the Northern League 1st Division today with a good 3-1 win over fifth-placed Ryhope CW at a blustery Belle View Stadium.

Recent signing Dan Capewell got them off to a perfect start, heading home his first goal for the club from close range, pictured top, after Colin Larkin’s shot from a corner was blocked in the 7th minute.

But Ryhope showed their league position is no fluke by responding with an equaliser three minutes later, Danni Lay turning the ball in at the back post after a low-hard cross across the six-yard box.

Consett suffered another blow in the 15th minute when striker Scott Heslop limped off, to be replaced by Carl Lawson.

It was the substitute whose pass set up Luke Carr in the 41st minute to almost restore Consett’s lead, with the skipper’s effort curling just wide.

It remained 1-1 at half-time, but Consett, kicking with the wind behind them in the second half, didn’t have to wait long to make the breakthrough.

Carr whipped in a corner from the left and new centre-back Matthew Ridley marked his debut by climbing highest to head home from six yards.

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Matthew Ridley’s header is on its way into the net to make it 2-1 to Consett. Pic: Gary Welford.

Lawson hit a good half-volley just wide, and Carr had an effort superbly blocked by Matthew Wade after great work by Colin Larkin and Darren Holden.

Keeper James Winter denied Larkin a goal on the hour, spreading himself well to save, but there was nothing he could do when Consett did make it 3-1 in the 71st minute.

Larkin showed great workrate to win back possession and fed the ball through to Luke Carr, who cut inside a defender and buried his shot in the bottom corner.

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Luke Carr makes it 3-1 to Consett. Pic: Gary Welford.

Ryhope almost pulled one back when Lay’s chip came back off the post, with Kyle Hayes beaten, but Consett had two great chances to make the final scoreline even more emphatic.

First, Dale Pearson, on as a sub after missing the last three games through injury, set up Larkin, who brought a good save from Winter. Then Pearson himself was clean through, but rolled his effort the wrong side of the post.

When the final whistle went it was a well-earned three points for Consett. And with second-placed Thornaby losing at West Auckland, and North Shields on FA Vase duty, the Steelmen are now eight points clear at the top.

  • Before the game, long-serving Consett player Calvin Smith received an award to mark his 400th appearance for the club in the recent away match at Newton Aycliffe.
Calvin Smith receives an award marking his 400th game for the club from president John Hurst, left, and chairman Frank Bell. Pic: Gary Welford.
thornaby

Consett see their title charge blown off course at Thornaby

League leaders Consett saw their Northern League title charge blown slightly off course today as they were beaten 3-2 at Thornaby.

It was third time lucky for the Teessiders, who drew 2-2 at Belle View back in August and were knocked out of the FA Vase on penalties after a 1-1 stalemate in November.

The home side, who started the day third in the table, went ahead after just five minutes at a blustery Teesdale Park, as Daniel Flounders finished low past Kyle Hayes.

Consett, kicking into a strong wind, had the ball in the net two minutes later through Scott Heslop, but the referee had already blown for a foul on the keeper, pictured below.

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Thornaby almost doubled their lead on 23 minutes, but Nick Cassidy made an excellent clearance off the goal-line, and Consett managed to get to half-time with the score still 1-0.

With the wind behind them in the second half, the Steelmen fancied their chances of turning the game around, but instead fell further behind on 52 minutes as Craig Hutchinson doubled Thornaby’s lead.

The visitors almost reduced the arrears on 55 minutes when Heslop’s pass found Darren Holden, who brought a good save from keeper Josh Mazfari.

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They received a lifeline on 62 minutes when the referee decided Heslop had been brought down by Nathan Guru, pictured above, and skipper Luke Carr converted the resulting penalty, pictured top, to make it 2-1. It was the little playmaker’s 10th goal of the season.

Thornaby were temporarily reduced to 10 men on 65 minutes when Hutchinson was sin-binned for dissent, and Consett brought on midfielder Alex Francis, pictured below, for his debut in a bid to capitalise.

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Heslop brought a save from Mazfari with a smart turn and shot from the edge of the box, but it was Thornaby who got the next goal in the 83rd minute.

With Consett appealing for a foul on Jake Orrell in midfield, the home side broke quickly on them, and the ball was fed out to Cyril Giraud on the left, who fired past Hayes for 3-1.

Two minutes later Jake Orrell set up a grandstand finish as he smacked the ball into the bottom corner from 25 yards, pictured below, for his ninth goal of the campaign.

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Consett almost grabbed an equaliser in the fourth of five added minutes when Carr got on the end of a cross from the left, but Mazfari made a great save down low to his right.

The final whistle signalled a third defeat in four games for Consett, who took some consolation from the fact that North Shields, who started the day in second place, seven points adrift with two games in hand, had lost 1-0 at Seaham Red Star.

Three points for Thornaby saw them leapfrog North Shields into second spot, five points behind Consett, with the same number of games played. It seems the title is not quite the two-horse race that many people were predicting just yet.

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

Consett bounce back from double cup defeat with vital win at Newton Aycliffe

Consett shrugged off the disappointment of exiting two cups in a week by strengthening their position as Northern League Division One leaders with a 2-0 win at Newton Aycliffe today.

It was one of their recent signings, Scott Heslop, who will grab the headlines after scoring both goals, but it was an excellent all-round team performance.

Manager Andy Coyles made six changes to the starting XI from the midweek game against Shildon, with Dan Capewell – signed yesterday from Dunston – making his debut at centre-back.

But the Steelmen were still without NINE players for a variety of reasons, and faced a tough task against their sixth-placed hosts, who won at Belle View earlier in the season.

It was a special day for one player, Calvin Smith, pictured, who was making his 400th appearance for the club – becoming just the eighth player in its history to reach that landmark.

Aycliffe started well, and almost took the lead on 10 minutes when Liam Jarvie was denied by the post, and a minute later Consett were grateful to keeper Kyle Hayes, who beat out Ethan Wood’s well-struck effort.

But they slowly grew into the game, and took the lead on 18 minutes when skipper Luke Carr whipped in a free-kick from the right, Aycliffe’s Marc Costello could only divert the ball goalwards, and Scott Heslop got the faintest of touches to take it through the keeper’s legs for 1-0, pictured top.

Four minutes later it was 2-0 as a great move down the left saw Colin Larkin send in a superb cross for Scott Heslop to slide home from inside the six-yard-box, pictured, for his fourth goal in two games.

Four minutes before half-time it was almost three when another move down the left saw Larkin fail by inches to get his head to Darren Holden’s cross, with Lewis Green, coming in late at the back post, unable to steer his effort on target.

Aycliffe started the second half well, and Hayes had to be at his best to keep out a close-range effort from Jarvie, while they also had a strong penalty appeal for handball against Capewell turned down.

The home side dominated possession for most of the half, but Consett – with Capewell and Smith outstanding at the heart of the back four – defended superbly, and the Steelmen had a couple of late chances to make the final scoreline even more emphatic.

First, Green did well to cut the ball back from the byline, but sub Carl Lawson could only head into the keeper’s arms from a few yards out.

Then Aycliffe custodian Adam Pickford made the save of the game from Jake Orrell’s 25-yard free-kick in added time, getting a strong hand to the ball to ensure the game finished 2-0.

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

Ten-man Consett bow out of the FA Vase to agonising late goal

Favourites Consett crashed out of this season’s FA Vase, losing 2-1 to Wythenshawe Town in the 4th Round on an afternoon of drama at Belle View.

They took an early lead, played most of the second half with 10 men, and then conceded a late goal which gave the impressive visitors the win.

Jake Orrell got the Steelmen off to the perfect start after just three minutes, picking up a loose ball outside the box, taking aim, and dispatching a superb strike into the top corner, giving the keeper no chance.

On eight minutes they almost doubled their lead when Luke Carr went on a run which took him past three defenders, and his effort had to be tipped over the bar by the keeper.

Wythenshawe – who Consett beat on their way to the 2020 final – served notice that they were much more of an attacking force this time round when Brad Byrne hit the post with a header on 15 minutes.

Consett keeper Kyle Hayes then denied the same player with his feet, before Consett had a great chance at the other end, as Dale Pearson volleyed over from Darren Holden’s whipped-in cross.

With little to choose between the sides, it remained 1-0 at the break, but the tie swung Wythenshawe’s way on 51 minutes when Consett’s Matty Slocombe was shown a straight red card for an elbow.

The player going down holding his face didn’t help, and nor did most of the visiting team surrounding the referee, but the incident gave the official a decision to make, and he made it.

Wythenshawe took advantage of their extra man by scoring an equaliser on 62 minutes, half-time sub Ionut Casian Anghel heading home from an excellent right-wing cross.

The visitors were dominating possession, but Consett defended well, and on the odd occasion that Wythenshawe found a way through, they couldn’t find a way past Hayes.

He saved well from Dominic Smalley, then produced an even better stop from Steven Hewitt, flinging himself to his right to keep out his well-struck effort.

Consett were struggling to get out of their own half, and it took until the 85th minute for the 10 men to produce an attempt on goal, sub Nick Allen firing wide when a corner was half-cleared to him on the edge of the box.

The incessant pressure on the Consett goal finally told in the 90th minute, when, with the game looking like it was heading for penalties, Wythenshawe grabbed a winner.

Consett lost possession in the middle of the field, Byrne’s pass sent Matty Bryan away down the right, and his cross picked out Darius Palma at the back post. He brought it down and fired home to make it 2-1 and end Consett’s brave resistance.

When the final whistle went after seven added minutes it was Wythenshawe celebrating a place in the last 16 with their supporters, after claiming their third Northern League scalp in their best-ever FA Vase run.

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.

Consett hold their nerve to make FA Vase progress with penalty shootout win at Thornaby

Consett will be in Monday’s draw for the FA Vase 3rd Round after a dramatic penalty shootout win at Thornaby this afternoon.

Dale Pearson was the Steelmen’s hero, scoring the decisive kick to give them a 4-3 win after a 1-1 stalemate during the 90 minutes.

Terry Mitchell’s side also had to change goalkeepers at half-time and played the last 20 minutes with 10 men after Matty Slocombe was dismissed for a second yellow card.

It was a game of few clear-cut chances, and Thornaby took the lead on 32 minutes with their first attempt on goal.

A diagonal ball found Cyril Giraud, who cut in from the left, beat his man and finished low past Kyle Hayes.

There was an anxious few minutes for the visitors when their goalkeeper needed extensive treatment after colliding with the goalpost in the 39th minute, but he was able to continue.

His team levelled a minute before the break with the best move of the game, as Dale Pearson’s cross from the left picked out Colin Larkin‘s run perfectly, for a first-time finish from six yards, pictured below.

Colin Larkin makes it 1-1 from Dale Pearson’s inch-perfect cross. Pic: Gary Welford.

Hayes was unable to continue for the second half, and was replaced in goal by Ross Coombe, but there was little change to the pattern of the game, with neither keeper having to make a save.

The tide seemed to turn against Consett when Slocombe was dismissed in the 71st minute fafter picking uip a second yellow card.

But the 10 men managed to see out the game, and even created a couple of half-chances to avoid the penalty shootout which had looked inevitable all afternoon.

The shootout got off to a dramatic start when Thornaby’s Craig Hutchinson put his effort over the bar, and Consett right-back Jermaine Metz saw his kick saved by Josh Mazfari.

Elliott Beddow, Cyril Giraud and James Frazer scored Thornaby’s next three attempts, with Luke Carr, Olly Scott and Darren Holden doing likewise for Consett.

But when Thornaby missed their fifth kick, the pendulum swung Consett’s way, and Dale Pearson held his nerve to fire home, and give the Steelmen a 4-3 win on pens.

They will be joined in Monday’s draw by fellow Northern League clubs Newcastle Benfield, North Shields (who also needed a penalty shootout to beat North Ferriby), and Billingham Synthonia, who pulled off the shock of the round, beating highly-fancied West Auckland.

Consett have to settle for a point from six-goal thriller at Ashington

League leaders Consett had to settle for a point on their travels, after a thrilling 3-3 draw at Ashington.

The Colliers dominated the first half, but had to dig deep to twice come from behind in front of a bumper 735 crowd – including a big Consett contingent – at the DWMedia Stadium.

Visiting keeper Kyle Hayes had already made two good saves and Ashington had also hit the bar before the hosts took the lead in the 28th minute.

Max Cowburn put in a great first-time cross from the right and Craig Spooner made it 1-0 with a close-range header.

Consett skipper Arjun Purewal almost equalised on 36 minutes when he hit the post with a header, and then saw keeper Adam McHugh make an unbelievable point-blank save, pictured top, as he tried to lash home the rebound.

The Steelmen were level a minute later when the resulting corner was half-cleared, and young centre-back James Metcalfe fired in off the post from just outside the box.

It remained 1-1 at half-time, but it took only two minutes of the second half for Consett to get their noses in frnt.

Luke Carr’s pass sent Jake Orrell scampering towards the byline, and his low cross across the six-yard box was turned into his own net by helpless defender Curtis Coppen.

Hayes made two more fine saves to keep Consett in front, but feel he could have done better when Ashington made it 2-2 on the hour.

He failed to deal with a cross from the right, and it was sent back across goal for Harmison, for Luke Salmon to score with a close-range volley.

Hayes made amends with a superb double save from Adam Johnson, and there were more chances at both ends, with both teams going for the win.

Consett thought they’d grabbed a winner in the 81st minute when Darren Holden’s excellent cross from the left put a 14th goal of the season on a plate for Dale Pearson, in his first game back from suspension.

But Ashington had other ideas, and made it 3-3 in the 86th minute, when Danny Anderson scored from close range.

With two minutes to go Consett had a big penalty shout turned down when a defender appeared to handle the ball on the ground, but a point apiece was probably the right result.

  • 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.

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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.

Larkin strike earns Consett a point at blustery Billingham

Consett had to settle for a point on their travels tonight after a below-par performance saw them draw 1-1 at Billingham Town.

Manager Terry Mitchell made five changes to the team which won in the FA Vase at the weekend, and his side started the game strongly.

Ryan King almost opened the scoring after six minutes, but his first-time effort from Jake Orrell’s left-wing cross came back off the post.

The Steelmen did take the lead on 10 minutes when another Orrell pass from the left found Colin Larkin, pictured top, 12 yards out.

The veteran striker took three touches of the ball – the first to control it, the second to nudge it past his marker, and the third to drill it into the net to make it 1-0.

Consett were kicking into the teeth of a strong wind which ruined the game as a spectacle, and made good football almost impossible.

But they were made to pay for not building on their good start when the home side equalised in the 39th minute, Connor Rennison firing home the rebound after Kyle Hayes had saved Danny Earl’s shot.

Consett were grateful to Hayes for a couple of good saves to keep the scores level in the second half, and the nearest they came to scoring in a forgettable 45 minutes was six minutes from the end, when sub Carl Lawson fired over the bar from Larkin’s set-up.

However, the point could prove crucial at the end of the season, particularly as the division’s form team West Auckland moved into second place, three points behind Consett, with a 3-0 win at Seaham.

Newton Aycliffe surprisingly lost 4-2 at home to Ashington, who are now fourth, while Ryhope CW and Thornaby from the chasing pack drew 1-1.

atherton

Late penalty sees stuttering Consett make FA Vase progress

Consett edged through to the 2nd Round of the FA Vase after a late penalty saw them beat Atherton Laburnum Rovers 2-1.

The North West Counties League visitors made the out-of-sorts Steelmen fight all the way for the victory, and had a couple of chances to win it themselves.

Terry Mitchell’s side were without top scorer Dale Pearson, whose red card against North Shields last week was upheld by the FA, meaning he will miss four games.

But they took the lead on 27 minutes through his replacement in the No 9 shirt, Colin Larkin, who finished from a few yards out, pictured below, after a great through ball by Jermaine Metz.

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Luke Carr almost doubled the lead on 38 minutes after being set up by Jake Orrell, but his shot crashed back off the bar with the keeper beaten.

It remained 1-0 at the break, but a half-time substitution and change of formation paid dividends for Atherton, who became much more of a threat, and equalised in the 68th minute.

Consett gave the ball away cheaply in their own half, and Travis Boyles played the ball through to Yacin Amarzou, who slotted it home.

Three minutes later the home side could have gone behind, as Boyles was played clean through, but shanked his shot high and wide.

Consett had a good penalty shout turned down on 85 minutes when sub Dan Marriott was barged over from behind by Atherton defender Tom Horner.

A minute later Atherton had another chance to win the game when Boyles was again played in, but Consett keeper Kyle Hayes made a vital save with his feet.

The game’s deciding moment came on 88 minutes when Consett were awarded a spot-kick, after the referee decided left-back Kaydn Craven had handled Carr’s goalbound effort on the line.

The defender was red carded, despite his protestations that the ball had hit him in the face, and Luke Carr stepped up to make it 2-1 from the spot, pictured top, and send Consett through to Monday’s draw.

  • Full match report and pictures to follow.