Consett manager Tony Fawcett has hailed his side after they brought their long winless run to an end today with a hard-earned 2-1 win at Stockton Town.
Continue reading “Consett boss Tony Fawcett is looking upwards after getting first win under his belt”
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.
After two blank weekends due to the weather, and another due on Christmas Eve, Consett’s next fixture is the trip to Stockton Town on Boxing Day (Monday, 26 December).
Continue reading “Boxing Day trip to high-flying Stockton Town is next up for Consett”
Consett were today handed an away fixture at Cleethorpes Town on the opening day of their debut season in the Pitching In Northern Premier League.
The trip to Linden Club in Grimsby will be on Saturday 13 August – seven days after the Steelmen open their season with an FA Cup visit to Goole AFC.
It is a tough start, as the Owls finished third in Division One East last season, and it’s followed by a first NPL home game against more familiar opponents, North Shields, on Tuesday 16 August.
The return game against the club who pipped us to the Northern League title last season is at the Daren Persson Stadium on Saturday 7 January.
Other games of note include a trip to Dunston on Bank Holiday Monday, 29 August, with the Tynesiders visiting Belle View on Monday 2 January.
We face more ex-Northern League foes, Shildon, at Dean Street, on Tuesday 6 September – four days before playing them there in the FA Trophy! The return league game at Belle View is on Tuesday 7 February.
The games against Hebburn Town are on Saturday 22 October (home) and Saturday 4 March (away), while we play Stockton Town away on Boxing Day, 26 December, and at home on Easter Monday, 10 April.
There’s only one far-flung midweek awayday at the moment – to Pontefract Collieries in West Yorkshire on Tuesday 23 August – our second away game (though there may be more, depending on cup progress).
Failure to take their chances when they were on top proved costly for Consett today when lost 4-1 at Stockton Town.
The Steelmen went behind early in the Northern League Division One game at the MAP Group UK Stadium, but could have gone in four goals in front at half-time after causing their hosts no end of problems.
Kevin Hayes went close for Stockton and Darren Holden hit the bar for Consett with a cross before the home side took the lead on 13 minutes. They broke quickly from a corner, with Lewis King charging down the right and providing a pinpoint cross for Shane Henry to head home at the back post.
Consett responded well to going behind, and equalised on 20 minutes when Luke Carr’s cross from the left fell nicely for Nick Allen to fire into the corner with a half-volley for his first goal of the season.
A minute later Consett should have gone ahead when a poor defensive pass let in Ali Alshabeeb, but he slightly scuffed his effort and centre-back Tom Coulthard got back to clear off the line.
On 24 minutes another golden chance went begging as a deft touch played in Alshabeeb again, but he couldn’t decide whether to shoot or pass to Carr, and in the end did neither, trundling the ball tamely out of play.
Consett were well on top at this point, and Jake Orrell’s pass sent Calvin Smith clear, but keeper Callum Roberts stood up well to save his shot from an acute angle.
On the half hour the Steelmen had yet another chance when a long ball saw Pearson break free of his marker, but he didn’t get hold of his shot properly and the keeper again saved.
On 36 minutes Consett had another chance, after some great work by Jermaine Metz down the right saw him pick out Pearson’s run, and although his first touch took him past a defender and the keeper, pictured top, the angle was too tight to get a shot away.
Kevin Hayes looked Stockton’s main threat, and he tested namesake Kyle with a free-kick before flashing a shot across the face of goal, but when the half-time whistle went the home side could consider themselves to be fortunate to be on level terms.
The second half was a different story, however, and after an unremarkable opening period, Stockton retook the lead on 63 minutes.
King was again the provider, with Jonathan Franks meeting his cross at the near post to make it 2-1.
Consett seemed to have lost their attacking momentum, and on 76 minutes they went 3-1 down when they failed to deal with Hayes’ cross from a short corner, and skipper Adam Nicholson volleyed in from close range.
Consett rarely threatened, and on 86 minutes the scoring was complete when Jamie Owens played in fellow sub Nathan Mulligan, who rounded Hayes to make it 4-1.
The final scoreline was perhaps a harsh one on the Steelmen, whose defeat was their third in a row, but emphasised the importance of taking your chances when you’re on top.
Consett are in the next round of the FA Cup after Luke Carr’s goal was enough to edge a close-fought 1st Qualifying Round tie against Stockton Town at Belle View tonight.
Meetings between the sides in recent years have usually resulted in goal-laden thrillers, but Carr’s strike on the hour, pictured above, was the only one of a clash between two top-quality teams.
Clear-cut chances were few and far between in a tight first half, which featured some good flowing football from both sides.
Dale Pearson came closest to scoring when he hit the post in the 17th minute, and Stockton keeper Callum Roberts made a good save to deny Calvin Smith from the rebound.
Ross Wilkinson and Arjun Purewal both had half-chances from corners, but failed to trouble the keeper, but it wasn’t all one-way traffic.
Stockton winger Kevin Hayes was presented with a golden chance when Consett failed to clear a cross, but dragged his shot wide, and midfielder Shane Henry also fired wide.
Just before half-time the Steelmen were grateful to keeper Kyle Hayes when he saved from his namesake with his feet after the wide man went on a surging run.
Stockton had the first chance of the second half, and again Hayes had to be at his best to keep out a dipping effort from Tom Portas, tipping it over the bar.
The vital goal came on the hour when Darren Holden fed Luke Carr, who took a couple of touches to work a shooting space for himself before burying a left-footed shot into the corner from just inside the box.
Stockton replied well, with Hayes again making a smart save with his feet to deny Henry, and Mikey Roberts just failed to connect with a loose ball after a rare mix-up in the otherwise solid home defence.
On 82 minutes Consett thought they had a second goal to put the game to bed, when Matty Cornish finished after being sent clear by Lewis Green’s excellent pass, but the frontman was controversially ruled offside.
Cornish had another chance to seal the win in the 87th minute after a good move involving Holden and Daniel Marriott, but couldn’t keep his shot down.
Stockton went to three at the back and threw the kitchen sink at their hosts in a bid to force a goal and take the game to a penalty shootout, but the Steelmen, with Purewal and Wilkinson outstanding, held firm to record a 1-0 victory.
It is Consett’s name which goes into the draw on Friday, which is when the National League big guns join the competition.
Tickets are now on sale for Consett’s next cup tie, the mouth-watering FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round game against Stockton Town.
The match against our Northern League rivals is on Tuesday 22 September, and will be limited to a capacity of 300.
Consett season ticket holders have until noon on Friday 18 September to purchase virtual tickets in person or by calling (01207 588886). Any remaining after that time will go on general sale.
Stockton Town have received an allocation of tickets in line with competition rules, and their supporters are asked to buy their tickets from them.
Please note that the home league game against Stockton scheduled for Saturday 3 October will be postponed, as that’s the date for the next round of the FA Cup.
Consett will kick off their 2020-21 Northern League campaign with three successive away games – starting at North Shields on Saturday 5 September.
The fixtures for the new season, issued today, will then see the Steelmen travel to Ryhope CW and Seaham Red Star in the next two league fixtures.
It won’t be until our fourth match that we get to see a league game at Belle View, when we entertain Shildon on Tuesday 22 September.
The delayed start to the season means the games come thick and fast after that; we face West Auckland, Stockton Town and Whickham in consecutive home games in the space of eight days.
And for the first time in five years we could have a game on Boxing Day – we’re due to be away at Penrith, pictured below, on Saturday 26 December.
We will see in 2021 with a home game against Ashington on Saturday 2 January, and other notable fixtures include a mouthwatering clash with fellow FA Vase semi-finalists Hebburn at home on Saturday 5 December, with the return game on Saturday 17 April – our final away fixture.
The season is scheduled to conclude with a home game against Northallerton on Saturday 24 April, however there will almost certainly be plenty of fixture changes between now and then.
Our first competitive game of the season will be the home FA Cup tie against Ryhope CW on Tuesday 1 September (KO 7.45pm). Ticket details for this will be released next week.
We don’t enter this season’s FA Vase until the 2nd Round, on Saturday 28 November. There’s no word yet on when we might play last season’s semi-final against Bitton.
Consett for once had only a passing interest in the draw for the opening rounds of this season’s FA Vase, which were made by the FA today.
Our club record run to last season’s semi-finals – which still have to be settled – means we are exempt until the 2nd Round on Saturday 28 November.
Hebburn Town, West Auckland and Stockton Town will also remain interested spectators until then, while Newcastle Benfield enter in the 1st Round.
Today’s 1st Qualifying Round FA Vase draw threw up 10 all-Northern League ties:
Bishop Auckland v Billingham Synthonia
Bedlington Terriers v Heaton Stannington
Willington v Whickham
North Shields v Tow Law Town
Northallerton Town v Billingham Town
West Allotment Celtic v Penrith
Ryton & Crawcrook Albion v Ashington
Shildon v Chester-le-Street Town
Whitley Bay v Newcastle University
Guisborough Town v Washington
Read the draw for the 1st and 2nd Qualifying Rounds as it affects Northern League clubs in full here.
Depending on our clubs’ success against opponents from other leagues, there could be up to nine more all-NL ties in the next round.
Consett fell just short in their bid to put a spoke in the wheels of Stockton Town’s runaway surge towards the Northern League title today, going down 2-1 at a gale-lashed Belle View.
Trailing the league leaders by two goals at half-time, the Steelmen put on a fine second-half performance which just failed to overturn the deficit.
The game kicked off in very windy conditions which were verging on making a sporting contest farcical, and within the first 10 minutes the referee had a discussion with both managers over whether the game should continue.
They decided it should go on, and Stockton, kicking into the fierce wind, took the lead on 22 minutes when Consett lost possession. The ball fell to Jonathan Franks, who fired home from eight yards to make it 1-0.
Four minutes before half-time the visitors, who were backed by two busloads of fans, doubled their advantage, as Kevin Hayes finished from Franks’ pass after Consett lost the ball in their own half.
Kicking into the wind in the second half, the odds seemed to be against a Consett comeback, but they were given hope just three minutes in when Ali Alshabeeb latched onto a long ball and held off the challenge of Lewis King before rolling the ball past the keeper for his 13th goal of the season, pictured above.
It was just the 14th goal Stockton have conceded in 27 league games – and two of the previous 13 came in our 2-2 draw at their ground back in September.
Ten minutes later overlapping full-back Jermaine Metz had a chance to level, but scuffed his shot from Jake Orrell’s pass.
Stockton keeper Callum Roberts then made a fine double save, getting down well to save Jake Orrell’s well-struck effort from the edge of the box, then quickly recovering to thwart Dale Pearson’s follow-up.
Metz had another chance, which he blazed over the crossbar, and in the 84th minute Roberts pulled off what turned out to be a matchwinning save, somehow keeping out Pearson’s powerful header from Alshabeeb’s cross.
Try as they might, Consett couldn’t breach Stockton’s superb defence again, and it was the champions-elect and their big travelling support who were celebrating at the end as they went 15 points clear at the top.
