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Consett registered a hard-fought win in this vital Arngrove Northern League Division One game against Spennymoor Town. Due to a series of postponements that has wreaked havoc on the Steelmen’s fixture list, caused by both bad weather and their FA Vase exploits, this was their first home league game since 21 November 2007, and only their second in four months. With lost time to be made up, Consett needed a win to keep runaway league leaders Durham City within their sights.
Manager Ken Lindoe made just one change from the team that had won 5-2 at Ashington in midweek, with Steven Brown returning to the side, David Pounder was pushed up front and Steven Johnson stepped down to the bench. |
Rob Story wins a heading duel
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Both sides struggled with a strong wind all afternoon and there was very little coherent football played in the opening quarter of the game. David Colvin, making his home debut, had a seventh minute strike from distance but failed to trouble the keeper. Spennymoor came closest to scoring when in the 19th minute, a free kick from Karl Richards whistled a few inches a few inches over the bar.
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Mattie Moffat heads home the only goal
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Consett have a pleasing habit of scoring with their first clear opportunity at goal, and so it was that they grabbed what turned out to be the only goal of the game on 27 minutes with their first meaningful attack. Jonjo Dickman burst into the area and saw his shot saved by Niki Lawson. David Pounder was first to the loose ball and he chipped the ball to the far post where Mattie Moffat headed home, despite Lawson’s best efforts to pull off what would have been a miraculous second save. It was the prolific Moffat’s 42nd goal of the season.
The home side almost doubled their lead within a minute when Dickman slid a fine ball through to Steven Brown but his shot from just inside the area swerved wide of the upright. Consett continued pressing and Pounder sliced wide from near the penalty spot, following up Craig Robson’s blocked shot. |
The Steelmen were well on top but couldn’t turn their pressure into goals. On 36 minutes Brown played a magnificent defence splitting pass for Moffat to run on to but Lawson came out well to make a fine stop. Then five minutes before the break another fine Consett move saw Gary Ormston dummy a Pounder pass to present Dickman with a chance but the impressive Lawson made an excellent one-handed save.
The visitors had threatened little in the first half despite the advantage of the wind behind them, however they almost snatched an equalizer when Jamie Clarke, who was a handful all afternoon, fought off a challenge from John Ewart before firing in a shot on the turn, which went just wide.
Half time: Consett 1-0 Spennymoor
While Consett had very much the better of the first half, it was Spennymoor who dominated the play after the break. They posted their intentions on 51 minutes when Richie Storr delivered a deep cross for Clarke and Craig Turns did well to claw away his header for a corner. From the resulting flag kick, Storr directed another header towards goal which Ewart headed off the line. |
Jonjo Dickman goes flying
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Moors continued to press for an equalizer and in the 72nd minute Clarke ran on to a long ball to bear down on goal and again Consett were grateful to Turns who came out to make a great one-handed save.
Consett’s best chance of the half came six minutes later when Pounder’s corner fell to Dickman in the penalty area, but he miscued his shot straight at Lawson.
John Ewart bring the ball out of defence
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It was the visitors who finished the half in the ascendancy though, and in the final minute Consett had a double escape. Clarke fired in a free kick from 20 yards which was deflected narrowly wide of the upright, and the from the ensuing Stuart Brightwell corner, Graham Robinson headed just over and the Steelmen claimed the three points.
Consett remain some 22 points behind league leaders Durham City but have seven games in hand. Durham have still to visit Belle Vue however, so Consett still have their admittedly remote title hopes in their own hands.
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Full time: Consett 1-0 Spennymoor
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