Tag: Northern League

west auckland

Consett drawn against West Auckland in the Durham Challenge Cup

Consett were today drawn against former Northern League rivals West Auckland Town in the 1st Round of this season’s Durham Challenge Cup.

The date and time for the tie have yet to be arranged, but it is likely to be at Belle View Stadium on Tuesday 11 October, with a 7.45pm kick off.

We last faced West at Belle View in a pre-season friendly on 23 July, when the visitors won 2-0.

The clubs have met many times in the county cup, most recently in 2011-12, when Kenny Lindoe’s depleted Consett side won 3-2 after extra time in a 2nd Round tie at Darlington Road.

Their matchwinner that night was Harrison Davies, who scored a hat-trick, but the Consett side also included a promising 17-year-old called Matty Slocombe, who was making his debut.

This season’s tie could bring us up against former Steelmen Scott Heslop, Jake Stafford, Corey Nicholson, along with Lee Hume, who is dual registered for both clubs, while Consett’s Adam Mitchell, Colin Larkin, Darren Holden and Ross Coombe have also turned out for West.

west auckland

Consett’s winning run comes to an end as West Auckland are saved by the woodwork

Consett’s winning run against Northern League opponents came to an end today when they lost 2-0 at home to West Auckland Town in their latest pre-season friendly.

The visitors, who will be one of the favourites for promotion this season, scored a goal in each half in a full-blooded Belle View encounter in front of 204 spectators.

Skipper Matty Slocombe in particular seemed to relish the midfield battle, exchanging some crunching challenges.

The Steelmen named just four of the starting XI from the game v Whitley Bay on Thursday night. One of them was Adam Mitchell, who was facing his old club, while the visitors’ line-up included Scott Heslop, who swapped Consett for West in the summer.

Consett found themselves behind after just four minutes, when West left-back Andre Bennett played in Cieran Jackson, who fired across keeper Mark Foden into the far corner.

It was half an hour before Consett had a chance of note, when Cyril Giraud turned his marker inside out and saw his shot blocked, and Karl Byrne fired the rebound wide after cleverly teeing himself up.

Danny Craggs had a chance to level with one of his trademark free-kicks in the 34th minute, but his effort from 22 yards was just too high.

A minute before half-time Leon Scott’s first-time shot from a right-wing cross hit the post, and West, who’d had the better of the play, went into the break 1-0 to the good.

Eight minutes into the second half they doubled their lead in slightly fortuitous circumstances. Corey Nicholson’s ball in from the right found Charlie Hindson, and Foden saved his initial effort well, but the ball bounced back off the forward and fell kindly for him to make it 2-0 with a tap-in.

On 64 minutes Consett could count themselves unlucky not to reduce the arrears when Byrne collected a crossfield ball, cut inside and curled a shot past West keeper Jordan Harkess, but saw it clip the base of the post and spin out, pictured top.

On 84 minutes the home side were again denied by the woodwork, when Adam Mitchell’s free-kick hit the post, struck the diving Harkess on the back, and was inching towards the goal when the keeper recovered in time to stop it crossing the line.

After a disappointing first half the Steelmen were much improved after the break, and could perhaps count themselves unlucky not to have got a draw against a very strong West team who kick off their league season next week.

  • Full match report and more pictures HERE.
hitley bay

Consett beat Whitley Bay to make it three pre-season wins in a row

Consett made it three pre-season wins in a row over Northern League opposition tonight as they beat Whitley Bay 2-0 in their latest friendly.

The Seahorses have recruited well under Nick Grey, who took over as manager midway through last season, but the Steelmen scored a goal in each half to claim the win, and a third successive clean sheet.

Andy Coyles’ side have already beaten Birtley Town 8-0 and Northallerton Town 2-0, after losing 4-2 at Berwick Rangers in their first warm-up game.

Zak Atkinson had already had a goal disallowed for offside when Darren Holden gave Consett the lead on 25 minutes, firing home right-footed, pictured top, after a great through ball by Declan Bisset.

Two minutes before the break Bisset looked certain to get his name on the scoresheet when he met a cross from Dan Marriott, but put his header inches wide.

On 56 minutes Marriott almost doubled Consett’s lead with a deft header from Adam Mitchell’s cross, but Bay keeper Dan Lister clawed the ball away.

But he was powerless to stop the hosts make it 2-0 a minute later, with the roles reversed from the first half, as Holden’s right-wing corner picked out Declan Bisset to head home at the far post to make it 2-0.

The usual rash of substitutions saw the game lose some of its momentum in the second half, but the teams served up an entertaining match for the crowd of 203.

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Consett pair make the shortlist at the Northern League’s end-of-season awards

Two Consett players made the shortlist for awards at the Northern League’s annual dinner and presentation evening.

Veteran striker Colin Larkin was nominated in the Player of the Year category, while young midfielder Dan Marriott was among the candidates for Young Player of the Year.

‘Larks’ only joined Consett last summer, but made a major contribution to our promotion to the Northern Premier League.

He scored 17 goals in 39 appearances, and set a superb example with his attitude, workrate and commitment.

Colin was a popular choice as our Supporters’ Player of the Year, receiving his award after the final home game of the season against Ashington, pictured below.

colin larkin

Dan, still just 20, made huge progress during the season just ended, which was his second full campaign with the club.

He made 35 appearances, scoring three goals, including the one at Histon which ultimately secured promotion, pictured below.

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Dan, who as a local lad has become a real fans’ favourite, has signed a contract to secure his services for Consett as we prepare to join the Northern Premier League.

Sadly, Colin and Dan didn’t scoop the awards, with Dan Wilson of North Shields being named Player of the Year, and Callum Larmouth of West Allotment Celtic winning the Young Player award.

Consett AFC didn’t leave the presentation dinner empty-handed though: the club was joint-winner of the Respect Scheme – which focuses on cautions and dismissals for dissent – in Division One.

We were also rewarded for completing the season without incurring a penalty under the league’s Administration Award scheme – testament to the dedication of club secretary David Pyke, pictured below.

david pyke

ashington

Consett share eight goals with Ashington in end-of-season thriller

Consett twice came from two goals down to draw 4-4 with Ashington as they brought their Northern League campaign to a close today at a sunny Belle View Stadium.

Andy Coyles named an attacking line-up, which started the game well, but found his side trailing 2-0 after the visitors – Division One’s top scorers – struck twice in three minutes.

The first came on 14 minutes as Dean Briggs took advantage of a defensive mix-up to open the scoring, and two minutes later their lead was doubled as Consett’s makeshift defence failed to clear their lines and Lewis Suddick fired home.

On 18 minutes Scott Heslop reduced the arrears with his 7th goal in 16 games since signing from Dunston, bravely beating Ashington keeper Adam McHugh to Colin Larkin’s cross to head home.

On 33 minutes Dale Pearson hit the 20 mark for the season, beating the visitors’ offside trap to smash the ball past the keeper.

Consett almost got their noses in front in first-half injury time when a superb 25-yarder from Lewis Green rattled the crossbar, and Larkin was inches away from turning in the rebound.

But in the third minute of added time it was Ashington who regained the lead when Dean Briggs spotted Kyle Hayes off his line and arrowed a shot past him from 40 yards.

Ashington went into the break 3-2 up, and within eight minutes of the restart had restored their two-goal lead when an excellent pass sent Liam Doyle to the byline and he pulled the ball back for Lewis Suddick to finish from close range.

On 69 minutes Consett hit the woodwork for the second time when Jake Orrell’s free-kick came back off the post, and Green was denied by McHugh from the follow-up.

But on 70 minutes another setpiece saw Orrell whip a corner in for Calvin Smith to glance in a header and make it 3-4.

On 73 minutes Carl Lawson met a deep cross from Nick Cassidy, and saw his effort cleared off the line, and 10 minutes later another Cassidy cross by headed just wide by Larkin as Consett piled on the pressure.

The fully-deserved equaliser came in the 84th minute, when Jake Orrell smashed a free-kick from 25 yards into the top corner to make it 4-4 with his 11th goal of the season.

Both sides had chances to win the game, but a draw was probably about right for a game which was a wonderful advert for the Northern League.

Consett will take plenty of positives into their play-off for a place in the Northern Premier League on Saturday 30 April. Now they must hope they can get some of their injured defenders fit for the one-off showdown against opponents who are, for the moment, unknown.

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

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Consett suffer semi-final heartache at Ashington – and a double blow to their play-off hopes

A brave second-half comeback by 10-man Consett came to nothing tonight when they were beaten 4-3 at Ashington in the semi-final of the Division One Cup.

Trailing 3-1 at half-time, they got the score back to 3-3 despite having Calvin Smith sent off, and were within six minutes of taking the tie to a penalty shoot-out.

But they shot themselves in the foot by conceding a poor goal straight from the restart, and had Darren Holden sent off after the final whistle.

The red cards means Smith and Holden will both be suspended from the one-off promotion play-off on Saturday 30 April, leaving manager Andy Coyles with an almighty headache and a severely-depleted squad.

Ashington took the lead after just five minutes, when Kyle Hayes fumbled a corner and big centre-back Ben Harmison bundled the ball home from point-blank range.

Three minutes later the Steelmen were level, after David Dowson’s knockdown to Carl Lawson, who fired in off the post to make it 1-1.

Hayes saved well from Robert-Lee Taylor on 19 minutes, but there was nothing he could do two minutes later when Lawson lost his man and Jordan Summerly finished low past the keeper for 2-1.

Lawson almost grabbed a second equaliser a minute later, but saw his shot cleared off the line by a defender, and the visitors were made to pay on 24 minutes when Ashington scored again.

Smith gave the ball away as Consett passed their way out from the back, and the Colliers’ top scorer Dean Briggs drove at the makeshift defence to fire past Hayes and make it 3-1.

Colin Larkin went close to reducing the arrears five minutes before half-time when he chested the ball down 25 yards out and fired into the side netting, but it was a second-best Consett team who headed into the dressing rooms at the break.

Ashington were backed by a vociferous crowd who were appealing for every decision, real and otherwise, and they demanded a red card for a Jake Orrell foul on 55 minutes, but the referee decided yellow was sufficient.

Three minutes later they got their wish when Calvin Smith was shown a straight red card for a challenge which many onlookers thought had won the ball.

Consett now had a mountain to climb, but bringing on strikers Scott Heslop and Dale Pearson for David Dowson and Luke Carr injected fresh energy into their attacking play.

They were indebted to Hayes for keeping them in the game on 65 minutes with a superb double save, but on 73 minutes they were right back in it when Scott Heslop bulleted in a header from Orrell’s corner.

On 83 minutes Consett’s endeavours were rewarded when home right-back Liam Doyle wrestled Pearson to the ground, pictured top, and the referee awarded a penalty, which was despatched by Colin Larkin to make it 3-3.

Incredibly, within 60 seconds Consett’s fightback was in vain when, straight from the kick off, they failed to deal with a surging run from the halfway line, and when the ball fell to ex-Steelman Dean Briggs he fired home what turned out to be the winner.

If such late heartache wasn’t bad enough, Holden – Consett’s only fit defender – was red-carded after the final whistle for something he said to the referee, which rules him out of the promotion play-off.

With almost an entire XI currently unavailable, the Steelmen’s chances of playing in the Northern Premier League next season appear to be receding rapidly.

But before the one-off away game against as-yet unknown opponents there’s the small matter of completing our Northern League fixtures this Saturday, with a home game against Ashington, kick-off 3pm.

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

penrith

Consett suffer a huge blow as they’re beaten in their final away game of the season at Penrith

Consett’s hopes of a first-ever Northern League title are hanging by a thread after the last away game of the season ended in a 2-1 defeat at Penrith today.

Andy Coyles’ team needed a win at his former club to keep the pressure on second-placed North Shields, who have four games in hand over the leaders.

But for the second weekend in a row the Steelmen threw away the lead to suffer a disappointing defeat, and the gap at the top has now closed to three points after North Shields won.

Consett took the lead at in the 24th minute at Frenchfield Park when Scott Heslop played the ball off Penrith skipper Grant Davidson and a huge deflection, pictured top, gave keeper Arran Taylor no chance.

Heslop limped off in the 36th minute, to be replaced by David Dowson, and the sub had a chance almost immediately from Darren Holden’s pass, but couldn’t get a clean shot away, pictured below.

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David Dowson had a chance to increase Consett’s lead just after coming on as sub. Pic: Gary Welford.

Holden himself then had two decent opportunities to increase Consett’s lead before the break, but missed both, and it remained 1-0 at half-time.

penrith
Darren Holden’s dinked effort beat the Penrith keeper but went wide. Pic: Gary Welford.

Five minutes into the second half Jake Orrell had Consett’s best chance of the game when Dowson flicked on Nick Cassidy’s free-kick, but the No 10 was denied from close range by the keeper.

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Jake Orrell was denied by the Penrith keeper early in the second half. Pic: Gary Welford.

It was a big save, as the Cumbrians – in desperate need of points for their relegation fight – equalised in the 63rd minute, when Alfie Brunskill took advantage of a defensive error to fire home.

With news filtering through that title rivals North Shields were beating Guisborough 4-2, Consett needed a goal, but when it came in the 88th minute the matchwinning strike was at the other end.

Jamie Armstrong picked out Davidson with a right-wing corner, and although Consett keeper Kyle Hayes made a good save from the centre-back’s powerful header, Luke Brown reacted quickest to the loose ball to smash home the winner from close range, pictured below.

No 6 Luke Brown (left) smashes home Penrith’s late winner. Pic: Gary Welford.

Consett now need to win their final two home league games, against in-form Northallerton Town and seventh-placed Ashington, to give themselves any hope of the championship.

North Shields have now completed their home fixtures, and end the season with six consecutive away games, starting at Thornaby on Wednesday.

Consett take a break from league action by hosting West Auckland in the Division One Cup quarter-final on Tuesday, but could be toppled as leaders for the first time since September 1 by the time they next kick a ball in Division One.

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

Big Dan’s goal keeps Consett’s title hopes alive in must-win game v West Auckland

A late goal from big centre-back Dan Capewell gave Consett a vital three points tonight as they beat West Auckland Town 1-0 to keep their hopes of a first-ever Northern League championship alive.

Recent stuttering form has left the Steelmen needing to win their last four games, and hope for at least one slip-up from title rivals North Shields, if they are to win the league and promotion.

And for much of the night it looked like their hopes might fade into the rolling fog which threatened to envelop Belle View Stadium.

West Auckland keeper Sam Guthrie claims the ball from a Consett corner. Pic: Gary Welford.

West had the better of the first-half exchanges, and Consett had keeper Kyle Hayes to thank for keeping them in the game, after he made a couple of crucial saves.

On 13 minutes he made an unbelievable point-blank stop from West top scorer Jordan Blinco’s header, and Dan Capewell cleared Liam Potter’s follow-up off the line.

Four minutes later Hayes denied Blinco again, making a smart save low to his left, and when the West No 9 did get the ball past the Consett custodian in the 33rd minute, Capewell again cleared off the line.

The hosts’ best effort of the half came from James Martin, whose great strike from the edge of the box was tipped over by West’s one-time Consett keeper Sam Guthrie.

This James Martin effort was tipped over by West keeper Sam Guthrie. Pic: Gary Welford.

Consett brought on Dan Marriott at half-time to give them more of an attacking threat, and he had the first effort three minutes in, but it was deflected wide.

Striker Scott Heslop, who displayed tremendous workrate all night, had a decent penalty claim turned down in the 50th minute, then, midway through the half, fired just over after turning his marker.

The all-important goal came in the 81st minute when Consett were awarded a free-kick out wide on the left. Jake Orrell arrowed the ball to the back post, where Dan Capewell ghosted in to volley home his fourth goal for the club, pictured top.

The lively Marriott looked like he might seal the win with a second goal in added time, but was thwarted by a superb tackle from West skipper Gary Brown.

Gary Brown’s perfectly-timed tackle prevented Dan Marriott adding a second goal. Pic: Gary Welford.

When the final whistle it was to big cheers of joy and relief from the Consett fans in the excellent midweek crowd of 453. North Shields’ games in hand might make them favourites, but Consett aren’t out of the title reckoning just yet.

  • Full match report, stats and more pictures HERE.