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McLeod lays the ball off.
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Consett's interest in the Albany Northern League Cup ended at the
third round stage with defeat by high-flying Billingham Synthonia at Central Avenue.
The Synners are the form team in the Northern League at the
moment - their five wins from the last six games have seen
them go above Bedlington Terriers into second place in the
league. Nevertheless, the Steelemen were on an
impressive, by the standards of this season, four game
unbeaten run so hopes were high. From the team that
beat Peterlee on Saturday, Rod Butler was unavailable and
Tony Halliday was unwell. Steve Smith and Neil Lowdon
came into the starting line up to replace them.
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The game was only two minutes old when
Consett almost got off to a dream start. A clearance by Bridge
was charged down by Gareth McKenna leaving Andrew Thompson with just
the keeper to beat but Mohan saved well. Four minutes later
Billingham went close when a left wing cross from Cater was volleyed
over by Ripley.
After a fairly brisk and even start, Synthonia started
to get on top as the half wore on and always looked likelier to
score. Midway through the first half Wood should have done
better from 10 yards out, but his tame shot was gathered easily by
Platten.
On 32 minutes Flanagan held the ball up well in the
Consett area and laid it back to Cater who shot wide.
Moments later, Wood raced clear of the Consett defence but
never seemed to have full control of the ball and his
resulting shot flew well over.
For the most part of the first half though Consett kept the
home side at bay and were deservedly still on level terms at
the interval.
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Macca gets clattered from behind. Not a
penalty ... apparently.
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Half Time
Synthonia 0-0 Consett
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Scott Wilson gets stuck in.
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As they did in the first half, Consett almost took the
lead within two minutes of the start of the second, when the
ball broke kindly to McKenna just inside the area but he
snatched at his volley and failed to trouble the
keeper. Synners went straight up the other end almost
took the lead themselves when Radigan cut in from the left
and got a low shot in which Platten got down well to turn
round the post.
The second half followed the pattern of the first with
the home side surviving an early scare to dominate
proceedings although they could have considered themselves
lucky in the 56th minute when McLeod seemed to be flattened
from behind in the process of heading the ball in the
area. It was one of those which would probably have
been a foul anywhere else on the pitch but the referee, who
had a poor game, declined to give the penalty.
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Within two minutes the home side took the
lead. A left wing cross appeared to have been dealt with by
the Consett rearguard however the ball fell to Wood on the edge of
the area who drilled it home with the outside of his right
foot. The goal knocked the stuffing out of Consett and it came
as no surprise when Synners doubled their lead 11 minutes
later. A free kick from 25 yards was curled over the wall and
into the bottom corner to Platten's right by Radigan.
The remaining 20 minutes was fairly
tepid as the match was effectively over as a contest, a
thunderbolt free kick from Wells which had Platten at full
stretch to parry being the only event of note.
Synthonia thus clocked up their third
win over Consett in 60 days having beaten the Steelmen twice
in the league on successive Saturdays in November. Consett
are now left to concentrate on the serious business of
ensuring they get the chance to lose to them again next
season!
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Wilson gives Cater some close attention.
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Full Time
Synthonia 2-0 Consett
JPH
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