Consett treated their supporters to a Friday night football feast with their best performance of the season so far tonight, beating league leaders Hebburn Town 3-0 at a misty, wet Belle View.
Continue reading “Consett bounce back from cup exits with excellent win over league leaders Hebburn”
Consett extended their unbeaten run to five league and cup games with a 4-1 win over Sheffield at a storm-lashed Belle View this afternoon.
Manager Tony Fawcett was without the services of six players, and saw his side struggle to get going in a tepid first half which was played amid torrential rain and thunder and lightning.
The second half was a different matter, with all five goals scored in the space of 14 minutes.
Consett took the lead on 52 minutes when Jack Gibbons surged forward from midfield and released Wil Shaw, who buried a shot in the top corner from just inside the box.
Five minutes later it was all square as Sheffield centre-back Alfie Smith thumped home a header from Rory Coleman’s right-wing corner to make it 1-1.
Consett regained their lead almost immediately from the restart, as Shaw turned in the box and found Zak Atkinson, who bundled the ball home from close range, pictured below.
On 61 minutes it was 3-1 when Ben Ramsey broke clear and saw his shot saved by Sheffield keeper Jordan Pierrepont, but Wil Shaw was on hand to tap home the rebound.
And five minutes later the game was ended as a contest when the excellent Jack Gibbons hit a first-time strike from 20 yards from Ramsey’s pass which beat the keeper with the help of a deflection, pictured below.
Sheffield had to play the closing stages with only 10 men when a player limped off after they’d used all their subs, but Consett were content with four goals as they prepare for a big game at Ashington on Bank Holiday Monday.
Consett remain unbeaten in four league and cup games this season after a hard-fought 0-0 draw against nearest neighbours Dunston tonight.
The Steelmen had lost their last four visits to the UTS Stadium, but could perhaps count themselves unlucky not to have won against opponents who, like themselves, had three straight wins to their name.
There were lots of old boys lining up against their former clubs, with Dan Staples, Michael Pearson, Luke Carr and Dale Pearson starting for Dunston, plus Jack Elliott on the bench, and James Anderson, Dan Capewell and Calvin Smith in the Consett ranks.
With regular skipper Matty Slocombe rested, centre-back Ben Milburn, pictured top, had the honour of leading the team out as captain for the first time.
It was one of the old boys who had the first chance on nine minutes, when a defensive mix-up let in Carr, but Arjun Purewal got back to clear off the line.
On 18 minutes Consett went close when Jake Orrell’s ball found Smith, and his cut-back looked to have set up the lively Wil Shaw for the opening goal, but he was denied by some excellent last-ditch defending by Jude Swailes.
The game exploded in the 21st minute when Dunston defender Chris McDonald was shown a straight red card, pictured below, for a high two-footed lunge at Shaw.
The No 3 was clearly riled after not being awarded a decision against Zak Atkinson moments earlier, but the challenge was a bad one and Shaw was lucky to escape serious injury.
With Dunston reduced to 10 men, Consett were enjoying lots of possession, and Jack Gibbons went on a mazy run which ended with him shooting wide from 20 yards.
On 35 minutes Consett had a big chance when their high press caught Dunston trying to play out from their own box. Atkinson won possession and fed Kaleb Young, who skewed his effort well wide, pictured below.
Dunston changed their set-up at half-time, and took the game to their visitors, forcing them on to the back foot, without really creating much in terms of clear-cut chances.
The nearest they came to scoring was in the 51st minute, when Capewell sliced a clearance across the face of his own goal as he tried to clear Robinson’s cross.
Consett’s best chance of the game came in the 81st minute when Shaw hit a fine opportunist strike from 25 yards, which Staples did well to tip over the crossbar for a corner.
Despite five minutes of added time, neither side could find a winner, and both remain unbeaten this season after taking a point apiece.
Consett are in Monday’s draw for the next round of the Emirates FA Cup after a comfortable 3-0 win over Penrith today at a blustery Belle View.
With work to install a new 3G pitch being done on their ground, the Cumbrians conceded home advantage, and the Steelmen made it count in the Preliminary Round tie.
Wil Shaw opened the scoring in the ninth minute with his first competitive goal for the club, taking down a pass from Ben Ramsey and turning his man before firing into the bottom corner, pictured top.
Zak Atkinson had two good chances to increase the lead, but miscued the first, and saw the second cleared off the line at point-blank range by Penrith defender Matty Story.
The Steelmen led 1-0 at half-time, and although Penrith were defending stubbornly, they rarely threatened the Consett goal.
Just before the hour Consett doubled their lead when Kaleb Young won the ball in midfield and slipped a perfect through ball to Ben Ramsey, who homed in on goal before finishing for his second FA Cup goal of the season, pictured below.
Dan Capewell and Ramsey had chances to put the result beyond doubt, but Consett had to wait until the first of three added minutes before giving the scoreline a more comprehensive look.
Jake Orrell’s pass to the right wing saw Atkinson deliver a perfect cross for sub Nathan Greenwood to head home his first goal of the season from six yards, pictured below.
Asked who he wants in Monday’s 1st Qualifying Round draw, Consett manager Tony Fawcett said: “Anyone at home.”
Consett were within eight minutes of making it three wins in a row when their opening home game against Pontefract Collieries was abandoned tonight.
A pre-match torrential downpour left large areas of the pitch flooded, but staff and volunteers worked hard to get the game on once the rain had subsided.
The referee delayed kick-off by 45 minutes to give it every chance of being played, and it eventually kicked off at 8.30pm.
But play was interrupted just 12 minutes in when one of the floodlights failed, plunging part of the pitch into near-darkness.
After a 15-minute delay the power was restored, and Consett took the lead in the ninth minute of added time at the end of the first half when Ben Ramsey crossed for Zak Atkinson to finish into the bottom corner for 1-0.
Jack Gibbons had a shot cleared off the line and Atkinson saw an effort saved by the keeper’s feet as the Steelmen sought a second goal after the break to put the game to bed against a very physical and direct visiting side.
But with 82 minutes gone the same floodlight pylon which had caused the interruption in the first half went out again, leaving the referee with little option but to abandon the game, and the crowd of 299 to troop home disappointed.
Consett got their season off to a fantastic start today as a superb second-half display saw them win 4-1 at Kendal Town in the Extra Preliminary Round of the FA Cup.
Manager Tony Fawcett gave full debuts to six players: goalkeeper James Anderson, defender Harvey Smith, midfielder Kaleb Young, and attackers Jack Gibbons, Wil Shaw and Ben Ramsey.
And although there were a number of players missing due to injury and other commitments, Consett still had a strong bench, including Scott Fenwick and Jake Orrell.
Kendal had already started their season and came into the game full of confidence, after winning their first two league matches – both by 1-0 scorelines.
The first 20 minutes was played at a frantic pace, with both sides hitting the woodwork. The game started to slow down as half-time approached, and the teams looked to be heading into the break level.
But in the third minute of stoppage time a poorly-judged back pass to Anderson allowed the lively Steven Yawson to intercept the ball and finish low past the keeper for 1-0.
There were no changes at the interval, but there was a noticeable change in Consett’s tempo and they were straight on the front foot and making inroads into the Kendal defence.
The reward came on 53 minutes as Gibbons set Zak Atkinson away on goal. His initial effort was superbly saved by Kendal keeper Chris Cheetham, but the No 9 was quickest to react and slotted the rebound home.
Only three minutes later, the game was completely turned around as Ben Ramsey scored a fantastic goal. The winger took the ball down on the edge of the area and turned past two defenders before slamming an unstoppable shot past the keeper.
The visitors extended their lead on 76 minutes, with Ramsey involved again. The No 11 hit an effort from the edge of the area that the keeper could only parry to the edge of the box, and sub Scott Fenwick connected on the half volley, crashing the ball into the roof of the net.
Any doubt about the result was removed two minutes from time as Scott Fenwick got his second and Consett’s fourth as he met a lovely free-kick from Orrell to head Consett into the next round, and a meeting with our old Northern League friends Penrith.
Consett concluded their pre-season preparations with a 3-1 win over Northern Alliance side Alnwick Town at Belle View Stadium – but had to come from behind to do it.
With manager Tony Fawcett away, his assistant Wayne Buchanan took the reins for the first time, but his side quickly fell behind to opponents three divisions below them.
Alnwick broke quickly from a Consett corner in the fourth minute, and Lewis Fairbairn scored with a fine shot across keeper Aaron Steavens into the far corner.
It was a stunning goal, and with the home side struggling to make much headway against a stubborn visiting defence and a strong wind, the visitors almost doubled their lead in the 29th minute when 10 broke away, but this time Steavens made a good stop.
It remained 1-0 to Alnwick at half-time, and Consett rang the changes at the break, using all five substitutes. Within five minutes of the restart they were level.
Jack Gibbons picked up possession on the right and drove in to the penalty area, taking on two defenders. When he was tripped there was only one outcome, and after the referee pointed to the penalty spot Zak Atkinson stepped up to level the scores at 1-1.
Just before the hour the Alnwick keeper made a good save to deny Ben Ramsey as he cut in from the left, but there was nothing he could do two minutes later as Consett took the lead.
Ramsey swung a corner in from the left, Ben Milburn headed it back into the danger zone, and Dan Capewell was on hand to half-volley home from six yards for his second goal in successive games.
Wil Shaw came close to make it three in the 81st minute, but was denied by a fine low save by the keeper, who had already made a stunning fingertip save from Calvin Smith (though it wouldn’t have counted, as the Consett man was ruled offside anyway).
Consett weren’t finished, and in the 87th minute it was 3-1 when Jack Gibbons picked up possession outside the box and drove a fine shot into the bottom left corner, despite Alnwick’s sub keeper getting a hand to it.
Gibbons almost had a second right at the death, but this time the keeper got a stronger hand to the ball, and a defender completed the clearance before it could roll over the line.
Consett won their latest pre-season friendly in style tonight, beating Tow Law Town 8-0 in a game switched to Belle View at short notice.
Tony Fawcett’s team scored four goals in each half, with striker Scott Fenwick, pictured top, grabbing his first-ever hat-trick for the club.
Consett took almost half an hour to open the scoring in the previous week’s friendly between the two sides. Tonight it took just nine minutes, as Ben Ramsey’s deep corner was headed in at the far post by Scott Fenwick.
On 15 minutes it was 2-0, from another Ramsey flag-kick. This time his corner was headed back across goal by Zak Atkinson, and Dan Capewell nodded home from six yards.
Three minutes later Atkinson turned provider again, playing a super ball in from the right which Scott Fenwick finished first-time from 12 yards to make it 3-0.
Tow Law’s keeper made a good save to deny Ramsey, but there was nothing he could do about Consett’s fourth goal in the 32nd minute, as Jack Gibbons slotted in his first goal for the club, despite the efforts of a defender on the line.
Three minutes into the second half Scott Fenwick completed his hat-trick, firing into the roof of the net from six yards after another excellent Atkinson set-up.
A flurry of substitutions around the hour mark saw the game lost some of its flow, but Consett extended their lead on 72 minutes when Adam Mitchell’s ball over the top put Jack Gibbons through on goal and he rounded the keeper to make it 6-0.
Four minutes later Wil Shaw made it 7-0 when he collected the ball 25 yards out, beat his man and blasted home from the edge of the box.
The scoring was completed in the 86th minute when a Mitchell cross from the left was spilled by the keeper into the path of Kaleb Young, who had a simple tap-in for his second goal in successive games.
Consett’s final friendly is on Saturday, 29 July, when they take on Alnwick Town at Belle View Stadium, with a 3pm kick-off. Admission is the normal pre-season prices of £7/£5/£3.
Consett recorded their best friendly win so far, scoring five times for the second time this week as they beat Silsden 5-0 at a rain-swept Belle View today.
Summer signing Wil Shaw was the star of the show, scoring twice to take his tally to five goals in five pre-season games, and could have had at least a hat-trick after missing two other good chances.
The visitors, who play in the Northern Counties East League, had the game’s first chance inside two minutes, but Casey Stewart put his shot into the side netting.
But Consett took control in the 12th minute when Zak Atkinson scored from the penalty spot after new signing Jack Gibbons had been brought down.
On 27 minutes it was 2-0 when Ben Ramsey played a corner to Shaw, whose cross picked out Arjun Purewal to head home his second goal in two games, pictured below.
Four minutes later it was 3-0 as Atkinson played Wil Shaw clean through, and the in-form attacker buried the ball past the keeper.
Silsden again started the second half quicker, and Consett were grateful to keeper Aaron Steavens for tipping Jake Maltby’s dipping effort from the edge of the area around the post.
Consett almost increased their lead when a defensive mix-up gave Atkinson a chance, but the keeper saved, and then a defender got back to head Ramsey’s follow-up off the line.
Wil Shaw got his second goal in the 64th minute, finishing from close range, pictured top, after a great delivery from the right flank by Josh Baggs.
Shaw and Calvin Smith had further chances for Consett, and Steavens denied Stewart again at the other end before Kaleb Young completed the scoring in the 84th minute with his first goal for the club.
Consett’s next scheduled friendly is on Tuesday, 25 July, when they are away to Tow Law Town. Kick-off at Ironworks Road is 7.30pm.
Consett returned to winning ways as they beat near-neighbours Tow Law Town 5-1 at Belle View Stadium in tonight’s hastily-arranged pre-season friendly.
The Lawyers stepped in at the 11th hour after our originally scheduled opponents, Newcastle Benfield, pulled out this afternoon, saying they were unable to field a side.
And a young visiting side, including several teenagers, acquitted themselves well, despite the margin of defeat.
It took Consett until the 28th minute to find a way past them, when Arjun Purewal rose highest to head home from Jake Orrell’s left-wing corner, pictured top.
Calvin Smith almost made it two in the 35th minute from Purewal’s cross, but was denied by a superb save from Kyle Seymour in the Tow Law goal.
On 39 minutes the Steelmen did double their lead when an underhit backpass left Wil Shaw in on goal, and he finishing confidently for his third goal of pre-season.
Two minutes into the second half it was 3-0, when half-time substitute Zak Atkinson flicked the ball on to Calvin Smith, who made no mistake from six yards.
Ten minutes later it was 4-0, as Consett recycled possession from a corner, and Orrell’s inch-perfect cross picked out Dan Capewell, who buried a header into the far corner.
Shaw almost made it five when he tried a dinky chip after cutting in from the left, but it bounced on top of the bar and our.
Tow Law’s heads didn’t drop, however, and it took a fine save from Consett keeper Aaron Steavens to deny them a consolation goal on 69 minutes.
A minute later they got their reward for their perseverance when the referee spotted an infringement from the resulting corner, and skipper Brandon Mallaburn made it 4-1 from the spot.
The last goal came with the last kick of the game when Shaw flicked on a long ball for Ben Ramsey to run onto, and finish right-footed past sub keeper James Barron.
Consett’s next pre-season game is on Saturday 22 July, when they host West Yorkshire club Silsden, who play in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division, Kick-off at Belle View Stadium is 3pm.
