Consett manager Tony Fawcett has paid tribute to the club’s fans after his side secured their place in the Northern Premier League for next season with a final-day win over Lincoln United.
Continue reading “Consett boss Tony Fawcett pays tribute to the Conny Army after his side secure safety on final day”
Big defender Dan Capewell was the toast of Belle View Stadium tonight as his late, late goal gave Consett a 3-2 win over Cleethorpes Town.
He popped up in the visitors’ penalty area in the fourth minute of added time at the end of the game to steer the ball home and give the Steelmen a dramatic victory.
The result is a huge boost to their bid towards securing safety in the Northern Premier League Division One East, taking them seven points clear of the relegation play-off places.
Manager Tony Fawcett was able to name the same starting XI as he had for Saturday’s 3-0 home win over Sheffield – something he hasn’t been able to do too often since he took the hotseat.
And his side surprised their impressive visitors by taking the lead in the 37th minute, when right-back Josh Baggs fired home a rebound after Dylan Garvey’s header from Calvin Smith’s cross was saved by the keeper.
However, the lead lasted only six minutes, as Cleethorpes broke quickly from defending a Consett free-kick, and dangerman Curtis Bateson beat keeper Mark Foden to a long ball and lobbed it into the unguarded net.
Cleethorpes, who parted company with their manager last week, took the lead within three minutes of the restart when Consett failed to deal with a corner, and Edwin Essel finished from close range.
Consett equalised on 71 minutes when Danny Barlow collected the ball after the keeper made an unbelievable point-blank save from skipper Arjun Purewal, and curled it home for his first goal for the club, pictured above.
Just when it seemed like Consett were going to have to settle for a point, Jake Orrell floated a cross into the box and Dan Capewell was there to meet it from six yards to score the winner, pictured below, and send the majority of the 363 crowd home happy.
Back-to-back wins mean Consett are now 10th, with 43 points, with four games remaining, starting at Carlton Town on Saturday, followed by the Easter Monday visit of Stockton Town, KO 3pm.
Consett picked up another point away from home in the Northern Premier League tonight when they drew 0-0 at bottom club Tadcaster Albion.
The Steelmen welcomed back Calvin Smith, Matty Slocombe, pictured top, and Mark Foden from suspension, but had to settle for a draw on a night when defences were well and truly on top, with neither goalkeeper having a serious save to make.
And although another clean sheet away from home – the fourth since he became manager – will have pleased manager Tony Fawcett, his side failed to score for the fourth successive game.
The result means the Steelmen remain 10th in the table, 10 points off the promotion mix and eight points clear of the relegation play-off zone.
Of Consett’s remaining nine games, six are against teams currently below them in the table, but next up is a trip to third-placed Hebburn Town on Saturday (KO 3pm).
Full match report and more pictures to follow.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 have tonight appointed Tony Fawcett from Whickham FC as their new manager.
Continue reading “Consett appoint Tony Fawcett from Whickham FC as their new manager”
