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Consett ended an 18-year hoodoo by winning at Billingham Synthonia for the first time since February 1990. They did so in emphatic style, running out 4-0 winners at a bitterly cold Central Avenue. It was also a personal triumph for Adam Emson who scored all four goals.
The win was all the more remarkable given that Consett had to do without the services of leading scorers Mattie Moffat and Steven Johnson, as well as their suspended skipper Jonjo Dickman. Emson started up front alongside Carl Heiniger. Chris Scott came into centre midfield for Dickman, while Mark Gaffney started in place of Karl Baston at the back.
Consett signalled their intentions as early as the third minute, scoring withther first attack. Adam Emson made a strong run into the area to latch onto a ball played through from midfield and slid the ball past Synners keeper Ben Escritt and into the bottom corner. |
Adam Emson fires in Consett's second
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Five minutes later Craig Robson played a lovely chipped pass to David Pounder whose first time volley was saved by Escritt as Consett threatened to run riot.
It was 20 minutes before Synners managed a strike at goal, however Craig Hignett’s 25-yard free kick sailed harmlessly over the bar.
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Craig Robson gets tangled up with Magowan
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Given their early dominance it was no surprise when the Steelmen extended their lead after 24 minutes. Chris Scott floated a free kick into the area which Emson controlled well before hooking a left foot shot home from 10 yards.
Consett keeper Paul Gilmore was forced into his first save four minutes later, pushing Andy Harbron’s shot from distance round the post, not knowing that the effort was going wide anyway.
Synners’ David Yale did get an attempt on target in the 33rd minutes with a good strike from just outside the box but Gilmore was able to make a comfortable catch.
At the other end though, Emson was having easily his best game in a Consett shirt and had two chances in rapid succession to complete a first half hat trick. On 37 minutes he broke down the right wing, and, after being waved onside by the linesman, cut infield to slip his shot under the keeper only to see it hit the post with the rebound somehow evading Gary Ormston’s attempt to follow up. |
Then three minutes later a good advantage played by the referee for a foul on Heiniger left Emson through on the keeper, but Escritt saved at his feet.
Half time: Synners 0-2 Consett
Synners made a change at half time with Abel replacing the ineffective Hignett, however before the substitution could have any effect Consett went three up. Escritt fumbled a backpass to present Emson with the chance to complete his hat trick and this time he poked the ball home to make it 3-0.
Emson might have had a fourth on 55 minutes when he was picked out by Cuthbertson’s cross field ball. however his attempted curler aimed for the top corner went well over the bar.
Synners had a good spell around the hour mark going close twice in a minute, first when Gilmore punched Yale’s right wing corner straight to substitute Tyson Masters who dragged his shot wide. Then moments later the Consett goal led a charmed life when Cater’s through ball released Colin Iley – sent off in this fixture last season – and as he rolled the ball across the area to Masters a goal seemed a certainty. However his tame shot allowed Gaffney to clear off the line. |
David Pounder takes evasive action
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Midway through the second half Scott played a corner infield to the unmarked Pounder who hit a superb curling shot over the stranded Escritt, however to the home keeper’s relief the ball cannoned back off the crossbar.
Andrew Cuthbertson decides it's time for a sit down!
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Nine minutes from time Emson rounded off a magnificent performance with his and Consett’s fourth, which was without doubt the best of the bunch. Cuthbertson played a sublime through ball to Ormston who carried it into the area before squaring to Emson leaving the tall striker with an easy tap in.
The home side could have had a consolation goal three minutes from time when a left wing cross found Iley unmarked at the back post, but he slashed his shot wide to complete a miserable afternoon for Synners, and ensure the Consett left with a clean sheet to go with their first three-point haul from Central Avenue since Nelson Mandela became a free man!
Full time: Synners 0-4 Conset
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JPH
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