Tag: Mark Foden

25/03/202325/03/2023

Consett dragged into relegation battle after defeat at Grantham Town

Consett have been drawn into the heart of the Northern Premier League relegation fight after suffering a 3-0 defeat today at Grantham Town, the division’s second-bottom side.

Conceding two goals in the first half left Tony Fawcett’s team with a mountain to climb, and a third late in the game left them just a point outside the relegation play-off places.

The Steelmen’s side was much stronger than the one which drew at home to Ossett United last week, with Ben Milburn, skipper Arjun Purewal and Adam Mitchell returning to the defence.

But it was Consett’s failure to take three good chances in the first half which ultimately cost them the game.

They fell behind after just five minutes when Danny Barlow gave away a free-kick in a dangerous position on the right of the penalty area. McCrory floated the ball in and burly striker Gregg Smith powered home an unmarked header at the back post to make it 1-0.

It took until midway through the half for Consett to show their attacking teeth, when Milburn recycled a half-cleared free-kick to set up Jake Orrell, but the keeper was off his line quickly to save at the expense of a corner.

From the resulting flag-kick centre forward Scott Fenwick had a clear header at goal, but put his powerful effort, pictured below, inches over the bar.

Grantham almost doubled their lead on 37 minutes when a mix-up between Consett keeper Mark Foden and Milburn saw Lee Shaw nip in, but his lobbed effort bounced wide of the far post.

On 42 minutes Consett had another chance to level when Barlow was pushed over right on the edge of the box. He took the resulting free-kick himself, but his left-footed effort narrowly cleared the crossbar, pictured below.

A minute before the break Grantham doubled their lead. A quick break saw Shaw crash a shot against the bar, and left-back Joe Stacey reacted to the rebound quickest to fire home.

Being 2-0 down at half-time left the Steelmen with a mountain to climb, but for the first quarter of an hour of the second half they gave it a real go.

Fenwick hit a rising 25-yarder over the top, Nathan Greenwood had one shot, pictured below, saved and another blocked, and Matty Slocombe fired inches wide from 25 yards.

Again the misses would come back to haunt Consett, as they conceded again in the 77th minute to kill any hope of a comeback. A corner from the left saw Foden’s punch fall straight to Ashton Hall, who smashed it back past him on the volley.

There was no way back from that, and the defeat means it’s now eight games since Consett won a game, picking up just three points out of the last 24.

Wins for Lincoln United and Shildon reduced Consett’s cushion between their 14th place and the relegation play-off places to just one point, though they can take slight solace from the fact that Brighouse Town and Carlton Town – who we face in our final two away games – both lost today.

Tadcaster Albion, who lost 2-0 at home to Stocksbridge Park Steels, are relegated.

Full match report and more pictures to follow.

25/02/202326/02/2023

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.

18/02/202318/02/2023

Ten-man Consett bring home a hard-earned point after backs-to-the-wall display at Bridlington

Consett picked up one of their best points of the season today after an already-depleted side managed to draw 0-0 at Bridlington Town after playing almost half the game with 10 men.

Tony Fawcett was unable to call on eight players for the game through a combination of injuries, suspensions and covid.

He gave full debuts to teenagers Daniel Smith and Oscar Taylor, and only had two substitutes, both young players from the reserve team.

But his young side responded with a superb battling performance despite having their goalkeeper sent off early in the second half.

Mark Foden had already been booked in the first half for a studs-up tackle outside his area on Andy Norfolk, and received a second yellow card in the 56th minute for a rash challenge on Nick Hutton.

With no spare keeper on the bench, Scott Fenwick went in goal, and the big striker made a superb save in the 82nd minute from Benn Lewis, tipping his goalbound effort over the bar, pictured top.

Full match report and pictures to follow.

04/02/202304/02/2023

Consett get an excellent win on their travels at third-placed Stocksbridge Park Steels

Consett pulled off a superb result against one of the Northern Premier League Division One East’s in-form teams today, winning 1-0 away at third-placed Stocksbridge Park Steels.

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26/12/202226/12/2022

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.

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 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.

15/10/202216/10/2022

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.

11/10/202211/10/2022

Cool-headed Dec sends Consett through in penalty shootout win over West Auckland

Teenage midfielder Declan Bisset was Consett’s matchwinner tonight when he slotted away the final penalty in a shootout to give the Steelmen a Durham Challenge Cup win over West Auckland Town.

When 90 minutes couldn’t separate the sides, who were locked at 1-1, it all came down to who could keep their nerve from 12 yards to decide the 1st Round tie at Belle View Stadium.

Bisset – at 18 the youngest player on the pitch – took the final kick, and confidently tucked it in the bottom corner, pictured top, to take Consett through on penalties.

It was a nail-biting way to end a match which could have gone either way as the two old rivals slugged it out.

But young Bisset wasn’t the only Consett hero on the night; they were grateful to Lewis Green for getting them back in the game three minutes into the second half with a neat finish after Jake Orrell’s initial effort was blocked.

**Lewis Green, centre, is congratulated by Colin Larkin and Matty Slocombe. Pic: Gary Welford.**

And goalkeeper Mark Foden made a couple of good saves to keep West at bay in normal time, and another in the shootout.

The first half was one of few chances, but the visitors took the lead a minute before the break through ex-Consett striker Scott Heslop, who’d already fired one effort wide and seen another tipped over by Foden.

Consett were much improved in the second half, and Orrell had a great chance to put them ahead in the 65th minute when Calvin Smith’s cross picked him out, but his half-volley flashed just wide.

**Jake Orrell shoots just wide from Calvin Smith’s cross. Pic: Gary Welford.**

Midway through the half the game descended into a succession of bookings, with six players picking up yellow cards – three from each side – as the previously lenient referee lost his patience.

As the game headed into injury time Consett had a big penalty shout turned down when Adam Mitchell – playing against his old club – went down under challenge from Danni Lay, and West keeper Matty Wilkinson made a good save from Bisset.

**Consett’s penalty shootout heroes Mark Foden and Declan Bisset. Pic: Gary Welford.**

Penalties it was then, and when both sides scored their first three you wondered whose will would break first.

It was West, as Jordan Blinco saw his effort saved by Foden, only for Karl Byrne to spurn the opportunity to put Consett ahead by blazing his kick over.

**Consett keeper Mark Foden saves Jordan Blinco’s shootout penalty. Pic: Kenny Taylor.**

Another Consett old boy, Jake Stafford, took West’s fifth kick, which hit the crossbar and looped over, opening the way for cool-headed Declan Bisset to coolly step up and win the game 4-3 on penalties.

Full match report and more pictures to follow.

13/09/202213/09/2022

Consett beat Shildon for the second time in a week to make FA Trophy progress for the first time in 28 years

A superb Colin Larkin header gave Consett a 2-1 win at Shildon to progress to the next round as they contested an FA Trophy tie for the first time since 1994.

The Steelmen won at Dean Street in the league last week and did it again tonight to secure an away trip to Lancashire side Colne in the next round of the national cup competition.

Consett now play in the FA Trophy instead of the FA Vase following promotion to the Northern Premier League.

Skipper-for-the-night Jake Orrell gave Consett the lead in the 22nd minute, firing home the rebound from close range, pictured below, after Karl Byrne’s shot proved too hot for Shildon keeper Matthew Bateman to handle.

Colin Larkin should have doubled the lead a minute before half-time when centre-back Dan Capewell’s pass sent him through on goal, but Bateman stood up well to save, and it remained 1-0 at the break.

Six minutes into the second half it was all-square when Shildon’s top scorer Dean Thexton made it 1-1, reacting first to a rebound.

But on 58 minutes Consett went back in front when Declan Bisset’s delightful cross from the left picked out veteran striker Colin Larkin, who expertly steered a header beyond Bateman into the far corner, pictured top.

On 67 minutes the Steelmen thought they had a third goal when Capewell headed in from a corner, but it was disallowed for a foul on the keeper.

A minute later Bateman made a fine fingertip save from Byrne’s curling effort from 20 yards as the visitors sought a clinching goal.

But it took a superb recovery tackle by Capewell at the other end to prevent ex-Consett striker Michael Sweet from rolling the ball into an empty net after he caught keeper Mark Foden in possession.

Orrell and Byrne both had chances to give the final scoreline a more convincing look, but Consett held on to secure an away tie on Saturday 24 September with NPL Division One West side Colne, who won 2-1 tonight at Bridlington Town.

Full match report and more pictures to follow.

06/09/202209/09/2022

Consett pick up their first Northern Premier League away win with a fine performance at Shildon

Consett picked up their first three points on their travels since joining the Northern Premier League tonight when they won 3-1 at Shildon.

Dean Street was seldom a happy hunting ground for the Steelmen when we were Northern League rivals with the Railwaymen – but they fully deserved the points after a fine performance.

Darren Holden got Consett off to a perfect start, giving them the lead after just five minutes, smashing a shot in off the bar from Cyril Giraud’s pass.

On 10 minutes it could have been 2-0, but Shildon keeper Matthew Bateman pulled off a great save to deny Jake Orrell after a poor defensive header landed at his feet.

On 27 minutes Consett did double their lead when a corner was half-cleared to Orrell, whose cross found Dan Capewell, who glanced in a header at the back post.

The visitors were rampant, and Zak Atkinson was inches away from getting on the end of a cross to the back post, while Lewis Green saw a shot deflected just wide after good work by Giraud.

It was the 37th minute before Shildon troubled the Consett goal, and when they did keeper Mark Foden made a good low save to deny Jon Weirs.

But it was the visitors who came closest to adding to the scoreline when Capewell bulleted a header goalwards from a right-wing corner, but Bateman made a good reaction save on the line.

It remained 2-0 at half-time, and Consett picked up in the second half where they had left off, with great play between Karl Byrne and Colin Larkin – making his first appearance of the season – setting up Orrell, whose shot was blocked.

Atkinson was inches away from connecting with a spectacular diving header, and on 54 minutes Consett could have been out of sight when Byrne’s beautiful lofted pass sent Giraud through, but he fired narrowly wide.

Shildon received a lifeline on 72 minutes when they were awarded a penalty for a Capewell foul on sub Wilson Kneeshaw, but Foden made a fine save, diving low to his left.

On 79 minutes the home side did find a way back into the game when right-back Joe Posthill saw his initial shot well saved by Foden, but followed in to score from the rebound and make it 2-1.

A minute later Consett had a chance to restore their two-goal lead when Orrell’s pass found Larkin a few yards out, but he didn’t connect properly and a defender got back to clear the ball off the line.

But they were in no mood to let this game slip, and secured the points in the 87th minute when Darren Holden’s left-wing corner seemed to be punched into his own goal by keeper Matthew Bateman, with Dan Capewell following in to make sure, pictured top.

When the final whistle went it was a well-earned three points for Consett, who controlled the game from start to finish, and could and perhaps should have won even more convincingly.

The healthy travelling contingent in the crowd of 326 would certainly settle for a repeat performance on Saturday, when the sides meet again at Dean Street in the FA Trophy, kick off 3pm.

30/07/202230/07/2022

Consett draw at Liversedge in their final pre-season friendly

Consett came from two goals down to claim a 2-2 draw at Liversedge in a proverbial games of two halves in their final pre-season friendly.

The West Yorkshire side, who won the Northern Premier League Division One East last season, scoed twice in the first half.

But an improved second-half performance saw the Steelmen score twice in the last quarter of the game to claim a draw.

Liversedge took the lead in the 20th minute with the first real chance of the game. A corner came in from the left and big centre-back Jack Steers rose highest in the penalty area to head into the top corner.

Consett were finding it hard to create much against big, well-drilled opponents, and the home side doubled their lead in the 40th minute. Keeper Mark Foden made a good save from Wilson, but Jack Steers was first to the rebound to notch his second goal of the game.

Two minutes later it should have been three when the trialist No 17 turned his man superbly and teed up Wilson, but the No 11 somehow missed the target with the goal at his mercy.

Consett made two changes for the second half, bringing on Darren Holden and Ben Milburn for Kieren Aplin and Mark McLeod, and they grew into the game, though Foden made a good save with his feet from a Liversedge sub to keep them in it.

Consett got a goal back in the 68th minute when Declan Bisset hit a hopeful effort towards the back post which looked like a cross rather than a shot, but it dipped over the keeper and ended up in the far corner.

On 80 minutes Holden whipped in a great cross from the left and when it was only half cleared, Cyril Giraud was on hand to fire home from the edge of the box.

Four minutes from the end Consett had the chance to pull off an unlikely win whern another Holden cross picked out Matty Slocombe, whose volleyed effort went to Dan Marriott, who couldn’t turn it in.

Attention now turns to next Saturday, when Consett’s season kicks off in earnest when they travel to Goole in the Extra Preliminary Round of the FA Cup, kick off 3pm.

A limited number of places are available on the official club coach to the game, priced £20, on a first-come, first-served basis. Contact 01207 588886 or call in at the club to book – seats must be paid for in advance.