| |
|
Consett kept their title challenge alive with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Bedlington Terriers at a windswept Belle Vue Park. It certainly wasn't pretty, but grinding out wins like this is what championship campaigns are all about.
Having been down to a bare bones squad of 13 outfield players and no keeper for the midweek County Cup game against Durham City, there was a more familiar look to the The Steelmen for this game. That said, Carl Piecha was injured in the warm up which meant a last minute re-shuffle to promote David Scorer from the bench to the starting eleven. Adam Emson partnered Steven Johnson up front, with new signings Richard Logan and Paul Robinson amongst the substitutes. |
David Pounder's corner sails into the net
|
Bedlington kicked off playing into the strong wind, but nevertheless fashioned the game's first chance in the 5th minute. Consett only half-cleared a corner and when it was played back in Scott Robson controlled it on his chest before sending an overhead kick high of the target.
|
David Scorer clears an attack
|
Consett soon took control of the game though and on 16 minutes David Pounder played a one-two with Gary Ormston and fired in a mid-air volley from 25 yards that went just wide.
Two minutes later the same player had a dig from a free kick in a wide right position that went just over the bar.
Pounder was at the heart of everything for Consett, so it was no surprise that he scored what proved to be the game's only goal on 22 minutes. Using the wind to his advantage, he sent in a dangerous inswinging right wing corner that evaded Terriers keeper Powell and found the net despite the best effort of the defender on the far post.
The mercurial Pounder continued his one-man show a minute later with a run and 30-yard shot that Powell was able to gather comfortably. |
Consett kept on powering forward and on 35 minutes Andrew Cuthbertson teed up Ormston who found the side netting with his shot from the edge of the box. The Steelmen gained possession immediately from the resulting goal kick and Pounder played a wall pass with Steven Johnson this time, and had another dip from 25 yards that was wide of the mark.
Consett's pressure should have brought a second goal five minutes before the break when Johnson's attempted pass towards Emson was intercepted by Anthony Lowrie's hand, and the referee's decision to award a penalty was an easy one. However, Chris Scott smashed the resulting spot kick against the crossbar and Bedlington were reprieved..
For all their pressure and chances, Consett were fortunate not go in at the break on levels terms as the visitors failed to capitalise on a moment of madness from Consett keeper Jack Norton. Having beaten one advancing attacker, Norton attempted to dribble past another well out of his area only to be easily dispossessed. However, much to Consett's relief Scott Bell then attempted to pass to Anthony Shandran standing about 5 yards offside, and the Steelmen were given a huge let off.
Half time: Consett 1-0 Bedlington |
Andrew Cuthbertson wins an aerial duel
|
Whilst the first half had managed to be fairly eventful in spite of the conditions, the second period was just rotten. The gusty conditions and a very bumpy pitch made the game bitty and scrappy and neither side created a genuine goalscoring opportunity until the closing stages.
A spectacular effort from Pounder
|
On 58 minutes Johnson played in Emson who let fly with a good strike but Powell was not really troubled. Meanwhile the closest Bedlington came to a goal in the second half was when Mark Gaffney’s attempt at clearing a shot from Terriers substitute Gladwin resulted in him slicing the ball over his own goal.
Six minutes from time an awful clearance from Powell landed straight at the feet of Emson just inside the area, and he worked the ball across to Ormston who struck a low shot from inside the “D” just wide of the upright.
In the 88th minute Consett had a great chance to make the game safe when Emson played a ball inside to Steven Johnson clean through with just the keeper to beat. However, his clumsy first touch went straight out for a goal kick, a moment which rather typified the game as a whole.
|
Full time: Consett 1-0 Bedlington
JPH |
|
