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Consett claimed an excellent away win against a Newcastle Benfield side previously unbeaten in all competitions this season. In doing so they put on a performance as good as any seen this season, and they now go into their FA Cup Replay at North Ferriby United on top form.
With regular goalkeeper Paul Gilmore unavailable, manager Ken Lindoe drafted in 17-year-old Darlington academy keeper Josh Moody for his first Consett appearance on loan from the Quakers.
The Steelmen made a bright start to the game, and signalled their intentions as early as the third minute when Steven Brown sent a free kick just wide. Brown then played a cross-field ball to Steven Johnson who controlled well before firing in a low shot which Benfield keeper Andrew Grainger saved after a slight fumble. |
Mattie Moffat is halted by a tackle from Benfield's Alu Bangura
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The direction of the game pivoted on a key moment on the quarter-hour mark. Moody’s clearance was headed straight back by Mark Atkinson to Stephen Young who was left clean through with just the keeper to beat, however Moody came out to make a fine save.
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Steven Brown fires in the opening goal
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Consett capitalised on the let off and within a minute they were ahead. Jonjo Dickman embarked on a strong run through the middle and although he was tackled on the edge of the area, the ball broke to Brown who came steaming in to hammer home the opening goal.
The visitors were well on top and dominated the rest of the half, passing the ball well in the face of robust Benfield tackling. Midway through the first period Adam Emson skinned his marker and bore down on goal only to shot into the side netting. Then good work from Johnson to keep a ball heading out for a throw in play set up Emson who shot over from the edge of the box.
Consett cranked up the pressure and after first Emson and then Dickman had been denied by Grainger, the visitors doubled their advantage in the 36th minute. Johnson played the ball infield to Dickman who was fouled just inside the area, and from the resulting penalty Mattie Moffat sent keeper Grainger the wrong way to make it 2-0. |
In a rare sortie into the Consett area Michael Chilton sent a looping header from Alu Bangura’s cross towards goal but Moody was able to make an easy catch. It was only a brief respite though as Consett stormed forward again. Moffat outpaced the Benfield defence to create a one-on-one but on this occasion Grainger saved, as he did again seconds later when Moffat collected the rebound.
Half time: Benfield 0-2 Consett
Consett carried on where they left off in the second half and seemed to be denied a certain penalty three minutes after the restart when Moffatt was brought down by Bangura, however the referee saw things differently.
Benfield produced their best move of the match on 55 minutes when Young flicked the ball on to Chilton but he shot disappointingly at Moody. Two minutes later though Consett were back on the attack and Dickman swept the ball across the field to Johnson who cut inside before sending an attempted curler high and wide of the goal.
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Jonjo Dickman lets fly under pressure
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On the hour mark, a Moffat cross broke to Dickman who shot wide, and a few minutes later Emson saw a cross-cum-shot tipped over the bar. However with Consett still just two ahead there was a gathering feeling that the failure to turn chances into goals might come back to haunt them.
Adam Emson shoots
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Benfield finally came into the game in the final 20 minutes and a quickly taken free kick set up Atkinson who shot over when he should maybe have done better.
With eleven minutes to go Benfield got themselves back into a game that should have been dead and buried to set up a nervous finale for the travelling supporters. Some sloppy defending resulted in a loose ball which substitute Rasmussen reached ahead of Moody, and he lifted it over the prostrate keeper for Chilton to prod into the empty net.
In view of recent thrown away leads Consett seemed to become visibly twitchy, however in the last minute of normal time, from a superb through ball from man of the match Dickman picked out Johnson and he shot across the keeper to make it 3-1, a fairer reflection of the day’s events.
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Full time: Benfield 1-3 Consett
JPH |
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