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A welcome return to winning ways for Consett as they recorded a 2-1 win at home to Billingham Town. The game turned out to be closer than it looked like being when the Steelmen cruised into a 2-0 lead in the first quarter of the game, with a late goal for the visitors leading to an unnecessarily tense finale.
With the normally free-scoring Steelmen firing mostly blanks since the turn of the year, Ken Lindoe went for broke in this game with a three-man strike force of Adam Emson, Richard Logan and Steven Johnson.
The attacking intent was made clear in a strong start by the home side, with Jonjo Dickman sending a curler from distance just wide of the upright as early as the third minute. |
Gary Ormston makes a spectacular goalline clearance
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Consett took the lead three minutes later though, when they were awarded a free kick 25 yards out for a dangerously high boot on David Pounder. Up stepped skipper Dickman to send the place kick over the wall and into the bottom corner at the keeper’s near post.
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Chris Scott's corner floats into the net
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Town’s first threat on the Consett goal came on 18 minutes when John Alexander headed a ball back across the area to Martin Thompson who lifted it over keeper Jack Norton. However Gary Omston got back to make a superb clearance off the line, somehow managing the scoop the ball over the bar.
Thing were looking comfortable for the Steelmen when they doubled their advantage on 21 minutes. Chris Scott found the net direct from a left wing corner, with Town keeper Wiggin again somewhat culpable. In the process Scott emulated David Pounder's feat of four weeks ago who netted from the other flank against Bedlington, albeit with the assistance of a strong wind.
Town weren’t giving up though and on 29 minutes a quickly taken free kick broke to Alexander, but he shot tamely at keeper Norton. |
Consett were forced to re-shuffle the pack in the closing moments of the first half when first Dickman and then Emson limped off to be replaced by Craig Robson and Andrew Cuthbertson respectively. However, the home side reached the interval with their two goal lead intact.
Half time: Consett 2-0 Billingham Town
Consett kept up the pressure into the second period and threatened five minutes after the break when Pounder played a free kick into Logan, who turned his marker only to scuff his shot straight at the keeper.
On the hour mark the Steelmen put together the best move of the game when Scott played a great cross field ball that found Logan who played a lovely touch off to Ormston, however the tall midfielder’s firm drive was parried by the keeper.
With fifteen minutes remaining, and Consett very much in cruise control, Ormston flicked a ball on to Pounder who teed up Logan whose carefully placed shot went just wide. |
Richard Logan tussles for the ball
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Given that Consett seemed to be in very little danger it came as something of a shock that the visitors managed to claw their way back into the game in the final stages. The warning signs were there when substitute Lee Peachey, with his first touch, played a ball over the top for Alexander who fired straight at Norton.
Keeper Jack Norton gathers safely
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On 79 minutes Alexander tested Norton again, this time with a venomous low drive from just outside box that the Consett’s stopper just managed to finger tip round post.
With eight minutes remaining things got very interesting when Town halved the deficit. A free kick played into the Consett area was cleared, but only as far as Michael Dalton who headed the ball back into the danger area for Sean Boynton to score with a splendid overhead kick.
Town fought gamely for an equaliser but the closest either side came to scoring came deep into stoppage time when visiting keeper Wiggin tipped a Pounder free kick over the bar.
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Full time: Consett 2-1 Billingham Town
JPH |
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