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Consett lost their season-long battle against relegation with this defeat in their final game of the season, and as a consequence they will be playing in Division Two of the Albany Northern League next season.
Colin Carr was able to keep much the same team as the one that were unlucky not to win at West Auckland seven days earlier. The only change to the side that finished that game being Kieran McGinlay replacing Andrew Thompson in midfield. |
Chris Hodgson surrounded on all sides
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The Steelmen found themselves under the cosh for just about the entire 90 minutes in this game against a very good Shildon side that will finish fourth if they win their two remaining games. However, whilst creating nothing themselves, Consett restricted the home to just a few chances.
The first of these came in the 16th minute when in the course of a Shildon attack the ball bounced kindly to Nigel Bolton in the area who lifted his shot over the bar, although the referee ruled that Platten had got a touch on the ball. Twelve minutes later Bolton again was involved when his glancing header from a Walton corner went wide.
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Kieran McGinlay forced into a corner
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On the half hour mark Bolton had another chance to open his and Shildon’s account when a clever chest down from Emmerson fell at his feet, but he drilled his shot narrowly wide. Two minutes later Key played the ball through to Rutter in acres of space to the right of the Consett penalty area and although Platten blocked well, the ball broke to Key who dragged his shot wide.
So Consett reached half time with the scores level, but in truth Consett were battling hard just to contain
Shildon, rather than putting the home side under any pressure.
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Half Time: Shildon 0-0 Consett
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Consett maintained parity for only two minutes of the second half before Shildon’s pressure finally paid off. The Railwaymen took the lead though a fine 20-yard strike from Jamie Middleton that left Platten helpless as it cannoned in off the underside of the bar. Two minutes later the home side almost doubled their lead when Lee Ellison shot just over the bar from almost exactly the same position.
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Hodgson closely guarded again
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In the 57th minute Ellison squandered an excellent chance for Shildon when, right in front of goal, he succeeding only in hoisting the ball over the bar. Five minutes later though Shildon’s second finally came, and it was a little unfortunate from a Consett point of view. Ellison again found himself in a shooting position, and although Rod Butler denied him with an excellent tackle, the ball broke to Bolton who side footed it home.
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Darren Grimes in action
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That was effectively the end of the contest as the visitors seemed resigned to their fate, and
Shildon, with one eye on their midweek League Cup semi final with Tow Law, withdrew a couple of their more influential players. Apart from a fine Ellison chip in the dying minutes which hit the bar, neither side looked like altering the scoreline and Consett in the process completed a full 90 minutes without registering a single shot on target.
So a disappointing end to a very poor season for the
Steelmen, the final act of which came after the final whistle when Colin Carr stood down as Consett manager after 14 years in charge.
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Full Time: Shildon 2-0 Consett
JPH
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