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Another win and another clean sheet for Consett as they kept up the pressure at the top of the table with an excellent 3-0 win over Shildon. The visitors were on a run of good form coming into this game, and boasted a strike force in Adam Emson and Tyson Masters that had netted 27 goals between them this season. However they got no change out of an excellent Consett rearguard, marshalled by an immaculate Carl Piecha.
Ken Lindoe made two enforced changes to the side that drew 0-0 at Spennymoor four days earlier. James Platten donned the Consett keeper’s jersey for the 349th time in place of the unavailable Craig Turns, whilst in midfield Mark Patterson came in for the injured Steven Brown. |
Mattie Moffat heads in Consett's first
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The first half was even and produced very few chances. Carl Piecha headed David Pounder’s free kick into the side-netting on the quarter hour mark, then moments later Masters threatened for Shildon, blasting wide when faced with just Platten to beat.
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Jonjo Dickman perfects his aeroplane impression!
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Consett put together a neat passing move that almost bore fruit in the 19th minute but Shildon keeper Andrew Spence saved at Steven Johnson’s feet.
After Daniel Moore had dragged a shot wide from the edge of the area for the Railwaymen, Consett took a 35th minute lead. Gary Ormston gave a classic display of wing play, dribbling to the by-line before pulling back a superb cross which Moffat powerfully headed home for his 14th goal of the season.
Half time: Consett 1-0 Shildon |
If the first half had been fairly even, the second was all Consett as they piled pressure on the side that had relegated them in both 2003 and 2005. Almost immediately after the restart Steven Johnson collected a loose ball, embarked on a mazy dribble and and fired in a low shot which the keeper saved well with his legs.
Johnson was denied again 10 minutes later when he pounced on a defensive slip and tried to lift the ball over the keeper’s head, but Spence just got a fingertip to it and grabbed it at the second attempt.
The busy Spence had to palm away an Ormston header on the hour mark, but he could do nothing about the Consett move eight minutes later that doubled their advantage. A lightning quick one-two between Moffat and Johnson opened up the Shildon defence and as Spence came out to close down Moffat he rolled the ball across to his strike partner who slammed it home form 12 yards. |
Spence saves at the feet of Steven Johnson
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On 71 minutes it was game over when Moffat was clumsily fouled on the edge of the D, and Jonjo Dickman stepped up to send the resulting free kick into the top corner beyond Spence’s despairing dive.
Gary Ormston evades a tackle from Raitt
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It might have been 4-0 a few minutes later when Moffat brilliantly killed a long ball and fired in a shot which rebounded straight at the feet of Steven Johnson ten yards out. However his finish was a little too casual and Spence saved comfortably.
Full time: Consett 3-0 Shildon
JPH |
