| |
|
An entertaining game at Belle Vue Park ended all square as Consett played out a 2-2 draw with Billingham Town. With the Steelmen still looking to equal their highest Northern League placing of second, they will probably look upon this game as two points dropped, although a draw was certainly a fair result against their League Cup finalist opponents.
Consett manager Ken Lindoe kept the same outfield ten as that which won 3-0 at Chester-le-Street Town in midweek. The only change came in goal where Paul Gilmore replaced the unavailable James Platten.
The Steelmen started very brightly and ought to have taken the lead as early as the fourth minute. Mattie Moffat raced clear of the visiting defence to fire in a shot which Town keeper Hamilton could only parry up and onto the roof of the net. From the resulting corner Jonjo Dickman crossed for Carl Piecha to head home, but he did so from an offside position.
|
Mattie Moffat levels it at 1-1
|
The visitors picked up after a slow start and created a number of chances. After 11 minutes Steve Huggins looked to find Stuart Banks in the area, but Mark Gaffney’s saving clearance almost had disastrous consequences as it cannoned back off the upright. Soon afterwards a stray Dickman pass presented an opportunity to David Yale who attempted to chip Gilmore, however the Consett stopper was just able to stretch enough to make a save.
|
David Pounder fires in a shot
|
On 18 minutes Town mounted another attack after again intercepting a misguided ball from Dickman, but Huggins dragged his shot wide. After such sustained pressure though it was no surprise when the visitors took the lead two minutes later. Huggins broke with tremendous pace down the right flank and his wicked cross was sliced into the roof of his own net by the unfortunate Gaffney – his third own goal of the season.
The lead lasted just six minutes though as Consett were spurred into action. Dickman played a ball forward and Moffat was quickest to react, outpacing the defence to drill a low shot under Hamilton.
On the stroke of half time Consett saw three great opportunities to score go unconverted. Steven Brown played a ball through to Dickman leaving him with just the keeper to beat, but he dragged his shot wide. Then a matter of seconds later Brown himself pounced on a defensive slip to send a piledriver towards goal from the edge of the area, however his shot struck the upright.
|
Deep into first half stoppage time Brown crossed from the right and David Pounder saw his flying glancing header skim across goal and wide.
Half time: Consett 1-1 Billingham Town
The second half started slowly with Town coming closest to scoring when Steve Huggins curled a free kick over the wall to force a fine one-handed stop from Gilmore.
Consett took the lead on 62 minutes and again Dickman was the instigator. The former Darlington player threaded an inch perfect through ball into the path of Moffat who reached it just ahead of the advancing Hamilton. The shot had just enough pace on it to cross the line after hitting the inside of the post and somehow evading Richard Banks’ attempt to clear the ball off the line.
The Steelmen looked like they would go on to win comfortably having two good chances within as many minutes. Substitute Steven Johnson embarked on a surging run before laying the ball off to Brown whose firm low drive was saved by Hamilton. Then Pounder’s cross found Johnson who set up Moffat to send a left foot shot over the bar.
|
Steven Brown's drive hits the post
|
Consett’s lead proved to be as short-lived as Town’s had been in the first half, as, somewhat against the run of play the visitors equalised on 67 minutes. Billingham were awarded a debatable free kick for handball in almost exactly the same spot as Huggins’ effort early in the second half. Huggins appeared to be stepping up again, but instead only dummied to take it and Yale’s clever left footed effort into the other corner caught everyone by surprise.
Carl Piecha's header is ruled out for offside
|
On 77 minutes David Johnson went on a rare attack for Consett, crossing from the left to Pounder who saw his shot blocked. At the other end five minutes later, Yale attempted a 30-yard lob, but Gilmore got back to catch the ball on the line.
With just three minutes remaining Consett had a great opportunity to win the game when Dickman somehow manage to slide a pass through a tiny gap to Steven Johnson, but his flicked shot was instinctively caught by Hamilton. Ormston saw a dipping volley go over the bar in the fourth minute of stoppage time but in the end neither side could complain about the score at the final whistle.
Consett’s rivals for second place Whitley Bay also drew, at home to Spennymoor Town, so Consett remain four points behind Whitley who still have to come to Belle Vue on the last Saturday of the season.
|
Full time: Consett 2-2 Billingham Town
JPH |
|
