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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
