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Following on from their recent defeats at
Chester-le-Street and Blue Star, Consett continued their
worrying trend of losing to their relegation rivals at
Prudhoe this evening. The defeat leaves Consett five
points adrift in the relegation zone. Consett's
dwindling resources were stretched still further as Alan
Batey, injured against Blue Star, joined Messrs Lowdon,
Wilson, Thompson, Butler and Brown on the unavilable list.
David Hagan was consequently drafted back into duty at left
back, over a year since his last appearance for Consett. |
McLeod is closely watched
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As with the game at Blue Star at the weekend, Consett got off to the
worst possible start. Prudhoe fired a warning shot across the
bows as early as the 7th minute when a left wing corner was fumbled
by James Platten, but fortunately Consett defended resolutely to
block the resulting goalbound effort. Within a minute though,
Prudhoe took the lead, as a low drive from outside the area from
Foreman beat Platten's despairing dive to his left.
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Prudhoe scramble a corner away
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Prudhoe continued to press home their
advantage as they dominated the opening quarter of the match.
On 19 minutes, following a break from a Consett corner, Edgcumbe
dashed to the by-line and pulled the ball back for Foreman who
forced an excellent full stretch save from Platten. A couple of
minutes later Fairhust placed a free kick on the left of the Consett
penalty area on to the head of McDonald but he headed over from
close range.
After an opening spell of one-way traffic,
Consett pulled themselves back into the game, and gave notice of
their intentions in the 25th minute when a diving header from Colin
McLeod sailed over.
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McLeod was again involved after 33 minutes
when he broke into the area and laid the ball off to Halliday but
his shot from the edge of the area went narrowly wide.
Consett's attacks were often floundering upon the Prudhoe
rearguard's well drilled offside trap. Eight minutes before half
time though Darren Grimes timed his run perfectly to beat the trap
and was clean through on the keeper, but Clark saved well with his
feet. Consett's pressure intensified as the half drew to a
close with Halliday's run and shot going narrowly over just as the
45 minutes were up. Then in stoppage time the pressure finally
paid off. A ball was swung in from the right by Gareth McKenna
which McLeod met with a superb strike. Andy Clark made a
magnificent save, however Consett's number 9 struck the rebound on
the volley even better and Consett were level.
Half Time: Prudhoe 1-1 Consett
The second half started out a little more sedately than the
first as the two teams, by now pretty evenly matched, cancelled each
other out. With the contest finely poised the game could have
gone either way, and on the hour it swung the way of Prudhoe.
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The Tynedale outfit hit Consett with a swift
counter-attack down the right flank, Rob Livermore swung in
a wicked cross and, unfortunately for Consett, Jeff Sugden's
interception succeeded only in diverting the ball into his
own net.
This stroke of cruel luck seemed to visibly
deflate Consett and from then on Town looked the most likely
winners. After going close to doubling their lead
midway through the second half when Fairhurst dummied to
cross before shooting just wide, Prudhoe did double their
lead four minutes later. A left wing cross was
diverted goalwards by McDonald, Foreman followed up from
close range and although Platten did well to block his
effort he could nothing about Creamer's emphatic close range
finish. |
Hodgson falls foul of Prudhoe's offside
trap
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Consett could have reduced the deficit 13
minutes from time when Lee's right wing corner was met by Halliday
but his header was deflected over the bar. In truth though
Consett's attacks were spasmodic and Prudhoe always looked most
likely to score.
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Macca slides in as Hodgson looks on
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Ten minutes from time Livermore played
in McDonald leaving him clean through with just Platten to
beat, however he dallied on the ball and eventually shot
wide under pressure from Steve Smith. Five minutes
later it was Lowther's turn to squander a good chance when
he pulled his shot wide when well placed in the area. Consett
almost had the last word when a first time cross from Hagan
found Grimes in the middle who headed over amidst suspicions
of a push, but the home side maintained their two goal
cushion to the final whistle.
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The return fixture with Prudhoe at Belle Vue
next Wednesday now takes on added importance as Consett look in
serious danger of being cast adrift in the bottom three with the
seemingly doomed Peterlee and Blue Star. With their already
thin squad being stretched to the limits it is going to be a hard
fight to keep in touch with their rivals in the relegation dogfight.
Full Time: Prudhoe 3-1 Consett
JPH
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