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A desperately disappointing defeat for
Consett against Northern League Division One's bottom side
Newcastle Blue Star, a team that had not won in the league
since September. This was only Blue Star's third
league win of the season, and yet they have achieved two of
those wins against Consett - an unlikely double
indeed. The Steelmen went into this game with a number
of first team regulars unavailable for one reason or
another. Colin Carr had to manage without Andrew
Thompson, Scott Wilson, Rod Butler, Neil Lowdon and Johnny
Brown today, which meant starts for Steve Smith, Alan Batey
and Mark Lee. Richard Lognonne was the only fit
substitute. |
Steve Smith clears his lines
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The game got off to a blistering start and before Consett knew what
had hit them they were two goals down. The game was only four
minutes old when Star floated a free kick to the left side of the
area, which found Nesbitt who centred for Kris Heron to stab the
ball home from close range. The visitors might have conjured
up a quick reply when a right wing corner was played back into the
box by Alan Batey but Colin McLeod dragged his shot wide when well
placed.
In the 16th minute Blue Star doubled their lead when a long punt
towards the Consett area evaded the Consett rearguard and Heron was
on hand again to slot the ball past Platten. Consett were
certainly not out of the game however and again they almost
responded to the setback with a goal moments later. Chris
Hodgson crossed from the right wing and, following a bit of head
tennis in the Star area, Lee Suddes headed goalwards but straight at
the keeper.
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McLeod is beaten in the air
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Just before the half hour mark Consett pulled a goal back when
McLeod broke into the area and had his heels clipped in the
process. Macca took the resulting penalty himself and made no
mistake.
Following the frantic start and three goals in the opening half an
hour, the remainder of the half was a somehwat tame affair with
neither side fashioning a clear chance to speak of. Only a
dipping volley from Star's Michael Cunningham that was easily
gathered by Platten and a Tony Halliday run and shot that whistled
over came close to affecting the scoreline.
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Half Time: Blue Star 2-1 Consett
As was the case in the first half, Blue Star started the second
half brighter and should really have extended their lead.
Twice in a minute they came close when on 53 minutes Heron cut in
from the left and shot wide when he should really have claimed his
hat trick, then on 54 minutes Priest found himself clean through
with only Platten to beat but James saved well with his legs.
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Two minutes later Consett forged their first
meaningful attack of the half when McLeod ran into the box,
rounded the keeper and pulled a cross back towards Gareth
McKenna, but he was denied by a last ditch defensive
header. In the 67th minute Chris Hodgson went on a
surging run into the box, he pulled the ball back to Suddes
who made a poor contact with his shot which ran tamely to
the keeper. |
Macca slots home Consett's goal from the
penalty slot
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The second half followed a fairly consistent
pattern of Blue Star dominating but Consett occasionally looking
threatening on the break. The better chances were undoubtedly
being created by the home side though and Heron was again denied a
well deserved hat trick on 71 minutes when his stinging volley from
the edge of the box following a half cleared attack force a fine
save from Platten low to his right.
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Panic in the Blue Star defence.
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As the game entered the final 10
minutes Consett had a couple of half chances, both of which
fell to McLeod. First he found himself furthest
forward following a mistake in the Star defence however the
ball wouldn't come down for him and his improvised effort
was easily saved. Then following a right wing corner,
a weak punch from Bennett fell to McLeod but his left footed
drive was high and wide. In stoppage time, with
Consett throwing men forward in search of an equaliser,
Platten's attempted clearance struck Steve Smith and the
ball fell to Priest who found himself in the clear with
Heron for company. Priest took it himself though and squandered
the opportunity by virtually passing it back to Platten.
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In the end though Star just about deserved
their victory and serious questions must now be asked about
Consett's ability to survive the drop. Two games in a week
against the team immediately above them, Prudhoe Town, are coming
up. We'll all be much wiser as to what next season has in
store for the Steelmen after those.
Full Time: Blue Star 2-1 Consett
JPH
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