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Consett
1 Billingham Town 4 FA
Vase 2nd Round
Belle Vue Park, Saturday 9 November 2002 |
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Consett crashed out of the F.A. Vase when they were well beaten by Northern League colleagues Billingham Town, who claimed their first ever victory at Belle Vue Park. The clubs had met a fortnight earlier in the League and drawn 3-3, but on this occasion The Steelmen failed to get to grips with the opposition right from the outset. After three minutes the visitors almost took the lead when Baverstock pulled the ball back from the by-line to Chillingsworth who shot into the side-netting from a tight angle. Baverstock had caused problems for the Consett rearguard in the earlier game and he was instrumental in Town’s opener a minute later. He evaded Rod Butler’s tackle, crossed into the box, and Skelton was there to fire past Stuart Kelly in the Consett goal. The Steelmen tried to work their way back into the game but they created very little. Colin McLeod hooked the ball across the face of goal but there was nobody to get a touch at the far post while Neil Lowdon had an effort blocked by a defender. But Billingham always looked the more likely to score and they doubled their advantage after 40 minutes. Kelly’s kick out went straight to Gallagher who played the ball over the defence for Skelton who calmly lifted the ball over the stranded keeper. Town almost added another two minutes later when Chillingsworth shot straight at Kelly when he should have done better. Half Time: Consett 0-2 Billingham Consett were unlucky not to reduce the deficit seven minutes after the interval when they were awarded a free-kick 25 yards out. Ian Davison’s well struck kick hit the bar and Lowdon’s follow up header was clawed out by Town keeper Collier. As Consett pushed forward they were always likely to get caught on the break and that is exactly what happened after 64 minutes, Chillingsworth applying the finishing touch from Turner’s cross to make it 3-0. A minute later Turner himself could have increased the lead still further when he was clean through but Kelly did well to save with his feet. To their credit Consett kept battling away and they almost pulled one back after 68 minutes. Substitute Johnny Brown put over a cross from the right and Darren Grimes met it perfectly with a volley but Collier made a tremendous diving save. But The Steelmen did get on the scoresheet three minutes later when Tony Halliday headed in at the far post following a right wing cross from Lee Suddes. Town, however, hit the woodwork themselves when substitute Woodhouse saw his effort hit the post. Then with two minutes to go the visitors sealed the victory with another breakaway goal, this time Turner converting from Skelton’s cross. Full Time: Consett 1-4 Billingham ANDREW PEARSON | ||
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