Tag: zak atkinson

long eaton

Consett’s problems pile up after a home defeat by in-form Long Eaton United

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.

Consett centre-back Dan Capewell goes down 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.

Henry Dorward had a chance to make his mark on his debut.

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.

Consett Reserves captain Kieran Scott made 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 go down fighting as they lose to high-flying Worksop Town

Consett went toe to toe with runaway league leaders Worksop Town today, but just fell short as they tried to halt their promotion juggernaut, losing 2-1 at Belle View Stadium.

The Steelmen, who had five wins in their last six games, took the lead after five minutes when Calvin Smith hit a dipping half-volley into the corner from 15 yards, pictured top.

On 12 minutes they thought they had doubled their lead when new signing Nathan Greenwood converted from Jake Orrell’s through ball, but was flagged offside.

Worksop levelled in the 20th minute when a corner was headed back across goal by James Hanson and Josh Wilde nodded in from close range.

And they took the lead on the half-hour with an almost identical goal, Jack Broadhead finishing from Hanson’s set-up.

Greenwood missed a good chance to level just after the break, but the game lost some of its momentum midway through the second half when Consett’s top scorer Zak Atkinson was stretchered off with a serious-looking injury.

Though visiting skipper Hamza Bencherif hit the bar with a header with two minutes left, Consett almost snatched a deserved point deep into injury time when Matty Slocombe fired just wide.

  • Full match report and more pictures to follow.
shildon

Ten-man Consett hang onto their lead to complete a league double over Shildon

Consett finished their second home game in a row with 10 men tonight – but were this time able to hang on to beat Shildon 1-0 at a chilly Belle View Stadium.

The winning goal came in the 58th minute when Zak Atkinson headed in his 11th goal of the season, pictured below, from Jake Orrell’s free-kick to send the home fans in the 371 crowd into raptures.

shildon
Zak Atkinson heads in from Jake Orrell’s free-kick to score Consett’s winner. Pics: Kenny Taylor.

Calvin Smith had a glorious chance to double the lead two minutes later after Charlie Exley’s ball down the line saw Atkinson tee him up, but he put his shot wide with the goal at his mercy.

There was worse to come for Smith as he was shown a straight red card in the 73rd minute after catching an opponent high while attempting a tackle.

But a superb rearguard action saw his teammates hold out for the rest of the game plus five added minutes, to record their fifth win in the last six games.

The result puts Consett 11 points ahead of Shildon, who are fourth from bottom of NPL Division One East, in a relegation play-off position.

Perhaps more intriguingly, it puts them just five points behind Dunston, who occupy the last promotion play-off place – and the Steelmen have a game in hand.

Back-to-back wins against Stocksbridge and Shildon set Tony Fawcett’s men up nicely for their next game, at home to runaway league leaders Worksop Town on Saturday. Kick-off at Belle View is 3pm.

  • Full match report and more pictures to come.

stocksbridge

Consett get an excellent win on their travels at third-placed Stocksbridge Park Steels

Consett pulled off a superb result against one of the Northern Premier League Division One East’s in-form teams today, winning 1-0 away at third-placed Stocksbridge Park Steels.

Continue reading “Consett get an excellent win on their travels at third-placed Stocksbridge Park Steels” →
grimsby

Ten-man Consett’s winning run comes to an end at hands of streetwise Grimsby Borough

Consett’s three-game winning run came to an end at Belle View Stadium today as they lost 3-1 to in-form Grimsby Borough.

The visitors arrived unbeaten in 11 games, and made it 12 with a win where they showed just how streetwise they’ve become since starting the season with six consecutive defeats.

A tight first half was goalless, with Scott Fenwick having a shot cleared off the line for Consett, pictured below, and Ross Coombe saving well from Reece York at the other end.

grimsby
Scott Fenwick prods the ball past the keeper, but No 6 got back to clear. Pic: Keith Marley.

Calvin Smith hit the post as Consett started the second half well, with Fenwick denied a penalty as he seemed to be felled as he reacted to the rebound.

The complexion of the game changed completely in the 48th minute when the referee showed a straight red card to the disbelieving Zak Atkinson, pictured top, for a foul which Adam Mitchell had committed.

After a chaotic few minutes during which tempers frayed and the referee eventually sent off the right player, Grimsby took the lead while Consett got used to playing with 10 men.

A quick break down the right – where the dismissed Mitchell had been playing – saw the visitors’ top scorer Adam Drury exchange passes with York before firing a first-time shot past Coombe to make it 0-1.

Consett skipper Arjun Purewal had a glorious chance to level from a corner five minutes later, but his powerful header, pictured below, went inches over the bar.

This header by Consett captain Arjun Purewal cleared the bar by inches. Pic: Gary Welford.

The home side were made to pay when another quick raid down Consett’s depleted flank saw debutant Tyler Edwards convert from a pass by Lewis Collins.

A flurry of substitutions followed as Consett sought a way back into the game and Grimsby tried to hold onto what they had, but the home side received a lifeline in the 84th minute.

Borough centre-back Callum Lovett brought down Fenwick with a scything tackle, pictured below, and Consett’s top scorer Zak Atkinson stepped up to convert the resulting spot kick and make it 1-2 with his 10th goal of the season.

grimsby
Consett were awarded a penalty for this scything tackle on Scott Fenwick. Pic: Kenny Taylor.

Substitute Cyril Giraud and Atkinson had chances to level, and with five minutes of time added at the end of the game the crowd got behind Consett, spurring the 10 men on for a late leveller.

Instead the decisive goal went the other way as sub Kyle Radford made it 1-3 with a strike from distance, which went in off the post.

The result saw Consett drop one place to 10th, with their next fixture a tough away trip to third-placed Stocksbridge Park Steels next Saturday, 4 February.

  • Full match report and more pictures to follow.

Consett beaten by Brighouse in new manager Tony Fawcett’s first home game

Consett slumped to a 4-1 defeat to Brighouse Town today in new manager Tony Fawcett’s first home game.

The visitors took the lead in the 21st minute when Laurence Sorhaindo went on a solo run which took him past three players before firing home.

On the half hour they doubled their advantage through Jack Boyle, and two minutes before half-time the visitors took complete control of the game with a third goal.

Consett midfielder Matty Slocombe handled a goalbound shot in the six-yard box, for which he was yellow carded, and Sorhaindo converted the resulting penalty.

The Steelmen were given a lifeline back into the game on 51 minutes when Brighouse skipper Corey Gregory was sent off for handling Adam Mitchell’s shot on the line.

Zak Atkinson scored his ninth goal of the season from the spot to make it 3-1 and give the Steelmen hope of a comeback.

Brighouse keeper Brett Souter made good saves from Mitchell and Declan Bisset as Consett tried to make the most of their one-man advantage.

But the visitors had the final word when a quick break saw Sorhaindo set up sub Callum Charlton to clinch the win with a goal in the third minute of added time.

The result means Consett’s winless run now stretches to 12 games, and they dropped three places in the table to 16th.

  • Full match report and more pictures to follow.

Late leveller deprives battling Consett of all three points against Grantham Town

Managerless Consett came within five minutes of ending their eight-game winless streak against Grantham Town.

The Steelmen were rocked by the resignation of manager Andy Coyles and assistant Richie Hill on Friday.

But with backroom team Ben Cole, Gav Scott and Macauley Musgrave in charge, they came within a whisker of ripping up the form book against visitors who had only lost once in their last seven games.

Defender Ashton Hall headed Grantham in front from a right-wing corner on 14 minutes, but Zak Atkinson levelled six minutes into the second half, volleying in from debutant Josh Baggs’ cross.

On 74 minutes Consett took the lead when Kieren Aplin’s pinpoint cross was headed in from a few yards by Zak Atkinson, pictured top, for his eighth goal of the season.

But Grantham nicked a point with an 85th minute goal from full-back Matt Tootle, who made it 2-2 – their sixth draw in 11 games.

  • Full match report and more pictures to follow.
stocksbridge

Consett take the lead but lose at home to Stocksbridge Park Steels

Consett learned another Northern Premier League lesson tonight when they were beaten 2-1 at home by Stocksbridge Park Steels, despite taking the lead.

The Sheffield side pinched all three points by taking their chances against a Consett side who played some decent football, but were found wanting in both boxes.

Zak Atkinson gave the home side the lead on 14 minutes, pictured top, when he finished a lovely flowing move down the left involving Evan Horwood and Colin Larkin. It was his sixth goal of the season, making him the club’s top scorer.

But on 25 minutes it was all square when the visitors broke quickly from a Consett attack and pacy striker Ify Ofoegbu beat two men before burying a shot past Ross Coombe.

In added time at the end of the first half Declan Bisset brought a fine save from Steels keeper Harrison Davison-Hale with a stinging drive from 20 yards, and the sides went in level at the break.

Parity didn’t last long, however, and a defensive error in the first minute of the second half gifted what turned out to be the winner to the visitors.

A loose pass by Coombe was seized upon by Stocksbridge, who were playing a high pressing game, and Leigh Whelan made it 2-1.

Jake Orrell and Calvin Smith had efforts deflected wide and Cyril Giraud and Adam Mitchell both missed headed chances as Consett pressed for an equaliser.

Larkin almost rescued a point for Consett in the second minute of added time, but his well-struck 25-yarder came back off the bar with the keeper beaten.

The defeat saw Consett drop a place to 10th in the NPL Division One East table and means they have now gone eight games without a win (if you count the West Auckland cup game as a draw).

  • Full match report and more pictures to follow.
hebburn

Missed chances prove costly as depleted Consett lose at home to high-flying Hebburn Town

Depleted Consett slipped to a 2-0 home defeat against Northern Premier League high-flyers Hebburn Town today in a close game at Belle View Stadium.

It was a game of few clear-cut chances, but the Hornets, who are second in the league, took theirs, while Consett’s were left to rue their misses.

Hebburn took the lead in the 36th minute when big striker Liam Henderson headed home from Wayne Phillips’ right-wing corner.

Consett survived a big penalty appeal in added time at the end of the first half when Henderson claimed he was tripped, but the referee waved away Hebburn’s appeals and it remained 0-1 at the break.

Striker Zak Atkinson had two good headed chances to bring Consett level in the first 15 minutes of the second half, but couldn’t direct his efforts on target.

They were made to pay when Hebburn doubled their lead in the 67th minute, when Amar Purewal flicked on a cross from the left, and Liam Henderson buried a half-volley beyond the reach of Consett keeper Ross Coombe.

Consett had a big chance to get back in the game in the 76th minute when Declan Bisset’s through ball put fellow sub Daniel Smith clean through, but the teenage midfielder – making his debut after signing from Northern League side Newcastle University – rolled his shot just wide, pictured top.

When the final whistle went the 0-2 scoreline meant three losses in a row for Consett, who went into the game without the suspended Karl Byrne, unavailable Evan Horwood and injured Matty Slocombe.

With no midweek fixture, Consett’s next game is the trip to West Yorkshire next Saturday, 29 October, to face Ossett United.

Seats on the official club coach to the game are available now, priced £20. Bookings are being taken at the clubhouse, and places must be paid for in advance.

  • Full match report and more pictures to follow.

worksop

Consett lose to impressive Worksop after taking lead against the run of play

Consett suffered back-to-back defeats for the first time since joining the Northern premier League tonight when they lost 3-1 at Worksop Town.

The Steelmen had to endure long periods without the ball as the home side, who are one of the favourites for promotion, dominated the play.

The Tigers had a goal disallowed for offside and hit the bar in a one-sided first half where the visitors made it into their hosts’ penalty area just once.

But Andy Coyles’ side took the lead completely against the run of play in the 48th minute when they broke quickly from a Worksop free-kick, and Zak Atkinson coolly finished to give them the lead.

Keeper Ross Coombe, recalled to the starting XI, made two excellent saves to keep Consett ahead, but could do little about Worksop’s 73rd-minute equaliser, as Vaughan Redford headed home at the back post.

Two minutes later the home side were ahead, as Josh Wilde turned the ball in from close range from Redford’s cross.

And on 82 minutes the points were in the bag when Liam Hughes prodded home from Liam Hardy’s cross to make it 3-1.

Consett were left to lick their wounds after a defeat at the hands of a hugely experienced and very impressive Worksop side who will be there or thereabouts when the championship is decided at the end of the season.

  • Full match report and more pictures to follow.