Tag: memory match

On this day in our history: 28 April 2007 – Consett secure 4th place in their first season back in the top flight

Consett brought down the curtain on their Arngrove Northern League Division One campaign with an unspectacular draw at the Craik Park home of Morpeth Town on this day in 2007.

The Steelmen were guaranteed a fourth-place finish regardless of the outcome and consequently found themselves coming into the final game with nothing directly to play for for the first time in six seasons.

With their hosts having one eye on a Northumberland Senior Cup Final against Blyth Spartans at St James’s Park, the scene was set for a less than full-blooded contest!

There was only one change in the starting XI from the side that had lost at home to Billingham Town the previous Wednesday. Recent signing Steven Johnson, pictured top, came in for his first start for Consett, with injury doubt David Johnson making way for him.

James Platten and Gary Ormston combine to clear the danger. Pic: John Paul Hardy.

Morpeth took the lead in the 10th minute with a goal that caught the Consett rearguard cold. Paul Wilary floated a ball into the area and as the red defensive line stood still appealling for offside, Stephen Young ghosted in behind them to prod home from six yards.

The Steelmen were level 11 minutes later thanks to a well-worked goal. David Pounder sent a cross to the back post towards Gary Ormston, who side footed the ball back across goal, leaving Steven Johnson with the easiest of close range tap-ins to open his goal account for the club.

Steven Johnson scores his first goal for Consett. Pic: John Paul Hardy.

The remainder of the half was a generally tepid affair played out in near silence in front of a tiny crowd. Morpeth’s Paul Haxon went close with a header and substitute Paul Dunn saw a speculative effort go wide, but neither keeper was particularly troubled.

The second half was a bit livelier and Consett survived a scare four minutes after the break when a sustained period of pressure on their goal culminated with Damien Mullen shooting across goal and inches wide.

Consett responded immediately though and took the lead 45 seconds later. Jonjo Dickman sent a free kick to David Pounder on the left, and he drilled in a low cross which Ian Robson converted at the back post.

Ian Robson scored Consett’s second goal. Pic: John Paul Hardy.

The Steelmen ought to have made the game safe in this stage of the game as Pounder chested the ball down before driving it just over. Then on 54 minutes man-of-the-match Pounder embarked on a jinking run before firing in an effort from 22 yards which cannoned against the crossbar.

An injury to Jonjo Dickman in what was probably the only bad tackle in the whole game seemed to disrupt Consett badly, and within two minutes of his departure Morpeth were level. David Turner sent a long deep cross in to the Consett six-yard box and Young stole between the defenders and the keeper to volley home from close range.

Both sides upped the tempo in an attempt to end the season with a win and in the 72nd minute Ian Robson set up Johnson, whose left-foot strike was tipped over the bar by Poskett. At the other Young pounced on a poor defensive header, but sliced his shot wide.

Jonjo Dickman emerges with the ball in a midfield tussle. Pic: John Paul Hardy.

With six minutes remaining and a draw seemingly inevitable, referee Russell Tiffin, in his final appearance before retirement, provoked one last moment of controversy.

Young tried unsuccessfully to connect with a far post cross between two Consett defenders, however to the surprise of all parties Mr Tiffin decided that he had been impeded and awarded the home side a penalty. Young himself stepped up to try to complete his hat-trick, but blasted the spot-kick wide and the match ended in a fitting draw.

Morpeth: Poskett, Cockburn (Phillipson 61), Haxon (Andison 69), Turner, Nickalls, Grant, Rue, Wilary, Young, Sweeney (Dunn 30), Mullen
Consett: Platten, Ormston, Ewart, Dickman (Curry 67), Piecha (Hagan 85), N Wilkinson, C Robson, S Brown, I Robson, S Johnson, Pounder

On this day in our history: 24 March 2015, Celtic Nation 1 Consett 7

In the absence of football for the foreseeable future, we’re going to be looking back at some memorable matches in the history of Consett AFC -and what a cracker we’ve got to get us started, from this day in our history in 2015.

Consett enjoyed their best win so far under new manager Colin Myers, in his seventh game in charge.

After finishing as league runners-up the previous season, the short-lived days of largesse were over at the Gillford Park Stadium. The hosts went into the game second-bottom and fighting relegation, and had recently suffered 6-1 home defeats to Sunderland RCA and Whitley Bay. Little did they know that their latest visitors were to go one better, and put their travelling fans in seventh heaven.

Consett were without the suspended Matty Slocombe and Michael Pearson, and had ex-Tow Law keeper Josie Longstaff making his debut after Chris Elliott went off to play in Sweden.

Josie Longstaff was making his debut in goal for Consett. Pic: Gary Welford.

The Steelmen took the lead in the 21st minute, as Luke Sullivan rose highest to head home a Danny Craggs corner, but on the half-hour the scores were level when Celtic Nation broke quickly from a Consett corner. David Renyard cut in from the right and hit a swerving shot which Longstaff could not hold, and Dean Crozier reacted first to stab home the loose ball.

Consett began to get on top as the end of the half approached, and Michael Mackay’s 43rd goal of the season a minute before the break gave the Steelmen a half-time lead.

Michael Mackay made it 2-1 to Consett just before half-time. Pic: Gary Welford.

If Consett had shaded a fairly even first half, there was no indication of what was to follow. Sullivan was moved into midfield while Josh Gray replaced Adam Nicholls at half-time, and their pace, aggression and directness proved to be the catalyst for the demolition job which followed.

Gray’s run and cross set up Craggs to smash the ball into the top corner on 51 minutes to make it 3-1, and that opened the floodgates.

CN forward Harvey Moyes, a youngster on loan from Carlisle, was booked for a cynical lunge on Gray as the Cumbrians began to lose their discipline, and his strike partner Jason Blackburn was lucky not to see red after flattening Mark Eccles with a punch as they contested a header.

Consett continued to play their football, and on 53 minutes it was four when a lightning break ended with Calvin Smith sending a delightful diagonal chip over the keeper and into the top-right corner.

Calvin Smith made it 4-1 to Consett. Pic: Gary Welford.

Longstaff atoned for his error on the CN goal with a couple of decent saves before a Mackay penalty – awarded after the referee judged a defender had handled Gray’s shot – made it 5-1 on 76 minutes.

Chris Moore hit number six after a poor kick-out by the Cumbrians’ keeper three minutes later, pictured top, and the final goal came on 80 minutes, when Mackay, clean through and looking certain to complete his second hat-trick in four days, unselfishly gave sub Aris Guerin-Lokonga a tap-in.

The final score of 7-1 by no means flattered Consett, who would go on to finish the season 9th. It was to be their last visit to Celtic Nation, who finished 21st, and resigned from the league upon completing their fixtures.

Consett’s Jack Walker is outnumbered by Celtic Nation players. Pic: Gary Welford.

CONSETT: 1 Joe Longstaff, 2 David Brown, 3 Mark Eccles, 4 Dan Madden (captain), 5 Jack Walker, 6 Calvin Smith, 7 Chris Moore (sub 15 Dale Stones 83), 8 Danny Craggs (sub 14 Aris Guerin-Lokonga 65), 9 Michael Mackay, 10 Luke Sullivan, 11 Adam Nicholls (sub 12 Josh Gray 46). Subs not used: GK Ben Cole, 16 Kieran Jewitt.