CONSETT 1-1 WEST AUCKLAND
Saturday 26 April, 3:00PM, League
The away campaign ended with an interesting night's football at Consett not least for a goal within the first minute and a missed penalty. West Auckland though damaged Consett's hopes of second place after taking a point in a 1-1 draw. Meanwhile the squad was strengthened by the return of several players who missed Saturday's game.
West stunned the hosts by taking the lead after only 38 seconds! Dale Jardine slipped the ball through to Paul Freary and calmly slotted the ball across Paul Gilmore into the far corner of the net.
This could have got even better for West a couple of minutes later when the Consett defence were again for wanting when Ian Maddison beat the offside to race through - this time though Gilmore made the save with his foot to deny the West midfielder.
Consett though hit back and equalised in their first real attack when Nigel Bolton slipped when attempting to clear, the ball flew up in the air with David Pounder beating Mark Bell to the ball. The Consett forward headed past the West keeper and then played the ball back across goal where Steven Johnson could apply the finish from close range.
Good play saw Craig Robson have a shot saved in the 23rd minute before he again had another effort shortly after with a shot that flashed past the post after possession was lost on the edge of the area.
Jardine saw a shot held in between Consett pressure and the hosts could have had the breakthrough when Johnson's run and cross found Jonjo Dickman unmarked but the midfielder headed wide.
West responded by nearly taking the lead themselves six minutes from the break when after a corner and with the keeper out of goal, Michael Heckley tackled 2 Consett defenders on the line for the loose ball which cannoned over the bar for another corner kick.
Meanwhile in injury time David Colvin managed to turn the ball over the bar under pressure as the teams went into the break level.
The second half started with Consett looking the initiative - within 3 minutes Mark Bell was forced into an excellent stop to deny Steven Johnson who had been found in space, before a strong challenge denied half time sub Mattie Moffat a chance from the rebound.
However it was West who were denied a lead despite beating the goalkeeper when Bryan Stewart rounded the Consett number 1 and shot towards goal only for John Ewart to stop his effort on the line.
Consett bounced back from this scare by attacking Mark Bell's goal and it was West's number 1 who firstly saved from Steven Brown then got straight back up to block Johnson's rebound. From the resulting corner Carl Piecha saw his header cleared off the line, the rebound was blocked and finally a shot flew wide as Consett could not find the vital breakthrough.
West saw sub Andrew blackburn float a cross cum shot just wide before Bryan Stewart sent Paul Freary through and the forward was denied his second by Paul Gilmore's feet.
The breakthrough appeared to have been gifted to Consett 15 minutes from time when Thomas Louden brought down the Consett player in the area, up stepped the League's top scorer in Mattie Moffat but he sent a poor penalty straight down the middle of goal where Bell was able to parry. From the rebound Moffat then headed against the bar as home frustrations grew.
David Pounder saw a fizzing long range effort well held by Bell whilst Michael Heckley just about managed to clear a dangerous cross over the bar from a couple of yards. Consett nearly grabbed a winner when Johnson was not given offside in the 79th minute but his cross was scooped over by Moffat at the near post
Another late shot was held and several good blocks made to keep Consett at bay and West took home a point.
1. Mark Bell, 2. Thomas Louden, 3. Brian Fairhurst, 4. Michael Heckley, 5. Nigel Bolton, 6. Ian Maddison (15. Andrew Blackburn 55 mins), 7. Neil Lowden, 8. Danny Richmond (12. Kevin Bromley 46 mins), 9. Dale Jardine, 10. Paul Freary, 11. Bryan Stewart