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Consett's grim form in 2009 continued as they went down 0-1 at a chilly Penrith this afternoon. Although it was only the Steelmen's first league defeat since the beginning of November, the loss means they have picked up just 4 points from the last 15 - not championship form by any stretch of the imagination.
Manager Kenny Lindoe made just two personnel changes to the side that drew at home to Shildon seven days earlier, although there several other positional changes as he opted for a 4-4-2 formation instead of his preferred 3-5-2. Mark Gaffney and Andrew Cuthbertson came into the side in place of leading scorer Mattie Moffat – who had the controversially departed for Durham City in midweek – and the injured Jonjo Dickman. Adam Emson partnered Steven Johnson up front. |
Holland saves at the feet of Chris Scott
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Consett began the game kicking into the teeth of a biting Easterly wind but started the better of the two sides. They were unlucky not to take the lead as early as the fourth minute when Adam Emson controlled a through ball on his chest before dispatching a stunning left foot strike which cannoned back off the near post.
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Mark Gaffney clears upfield
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The gusty conditions made for a game of few chances and Penrith scored the only goal of the game on 27 minutes in just about their first sight of goal. Michael Coulthard sliced an attempted clearance which, unfortunately for the Steelmen, fell at the feet of Dan Robinson, whose low shot nestled in the bottom corner of the net giving Consett stopper Paul Gilmore no chance.
Consett responded well to the setback and Emson was denied three minutes later by a brave block from Cumbrian keeper James Holland. Emson went close again five minutes before the break, volleying a Gaffney cross just over under pressure. |
On the stroke of half time Penrith almost punished more hesitancy in the Consett defence as Michael Reed got between Cuthbertson and Gilmore, who had ventured a long way out of his area, to leave himself which a chance to shoot into the unguarded net. His tame effort from a wide angle, however, was well off target.
Half Time: Penrith 1-0 Consett
With the wind behind them Consett dominated the second half, and Chris Scott fired an early warning shot in the shape of a 25 yard strike that went just wide.
Ten minutes into the second period Carl Piecha took a quick throw in to Steven Johnson who teed up Gary Ormston but the Consett winger’s poor effort was saved by Holland. |
Adam Emson turns past Robertson
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The one-way traffic continued and on the hour mark, some great work by Scott created an opening for Emson and his venomous strike was deflected inches wide by David Lynn.
Scott hurdles a challenge from Gray
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Penrith’s only real chance of the second half came on 64 minutes from a deep cross by Mark Birch, which found Matthew Lea at the back post, but he fired his shot into ground and the ball bounced safely over bar.
That was only a brief respite from the action at the other end and on 72 minutes Ormston’s back header from Piecha’s long throw was saved Holland. Then two minutes later, Ormston teed up Mark Gaffney whose excellent hit was parried away for a corner by the Penrith keeper.
Despite all their possession Consett were unable to convert their limited chances into goals and they must have sensed it wasn’t to be their day when, in the 83rd minute, a high ball into the box dropped to Cuthbertson, however his firm goalbound drive was thwarted by two defenders who literally threw themselves in front of the shot to produce a great block.
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Full time: Penrith 1-0 Consett
JPH |
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