Match Report: 26/03/08
Consett 2, Billingham Synthonia 1
Arngrove Northern League Division 1
After the Easter Monday defeat at Billingham Town, Synthonia travelled up to high flying Consett. There were four new signings on the bench in Steven Aithwaite, Arron Leahy, Jack Chapman and Michael Toth.
Billingham were out of the blocks quickly and almost took the lead in the first minute of play when Colin Iley went through on goal. Consett keeper Paul Gilmore was off his line to save Iley's shot. Then in the 3rd minute a Synners free-kick from the left came to Brian Close, who's shot deflected wide.
Synthonia continued to make the early play and were rewarded in the 4th minute from a corner. A precision flag-kick from Jason Honeymnan was headed into the net from close range by COLIN ILEY.
Just a minute later in the 5th minute, Synners should have been further ahead. Some good work from Anthony Abel found Iley wide right. He crossed for James Magowan, who headed inches past the upright.
The Steelmen's first effort of the game came after 7 minutes when a weak back pass to John Jackson was cut out by Andrew Thompson who saw his first time effort go wide.
In the 10th minute of a lively start, Michael Jameson made advances down the left flank and fed a teasing ball in front of the Consett rearguard to Magowan. He didn't get a good connection on a first time shot and the ball went harmlessly wide.
Consett had a great opportunity to level after 14 minutes. A Steven Brown free-kick from the right found Thompson with a free header, but he sent his effort over the bar.
Consett were awarded a penalty in the 22 minute. A ball to the left was fired in and struck a Synthonia arm from close range. STEVEN BROWN stepped up to fire the ball low to the right of goal to level the game.
The home side then enjoyed a 20 minute spell of tidy football but without threatening Jackson in the Synthonia goal. With Synners reverting to hopeful long balls forward that were coming straight back at them.
Half-time: Consett 1, Synners 1
Billingham had a chance to regain the lead in the 53rd minute when a ball into Magowan saw him turn and shoot at goal. only to see his shot go wide. Iley then crossed into the penalty area in th 56th minute but Gilmore did well to catch the ball under pressure from Magowan.
Synthonia continued to have a good spell of possession but the Consett centre-backs were always comfortable in snuffing out any threat.
Consett then took the lead after 77 minutes. Synners lost possession in front of the back four and the ball came to STEVEN BROWN, who advanced on goal from the inside right position to fire in a low drive past Jackson.
The home side went in search for a third and in the 84th minute a speculative long-range shot from substitute Mark Patterson was comfortably collected by Jackson. Then a good corner from the right after 88 minutes had to be headed over the bar by Honeyman to keep Synners in the game.
Billingham then had a couple of chances in the closing minutes. A Jameson cross from the left was sent into the danger area but the defence cleared. Then in injury time Aithwaite sent in a cross that was cleared only as far as Christian Hanson who rifled in a shot that Gilmore did well to hold with yellow shirts ready for any rebound.
A good performance from Synthonia who had some good stages of possession. Billingham now entertain Spennymoor Town at the PTS Stadium on Saturday as the season heads into the final five games.
Teams:
CONSETT: Gilmore, Gaffney, Johnson (c), Dickman, Coulthard (Story), C Robson, Ormston, Brown, Poundo, Thompson (Patterson), Colvin (Clark). Subs not used; Curry, D Robson.
BILLINGHAM SYNTHONIA: Jackson, Honeyman, Close, campbell, Hanson (c), Cater, Guy (Aithwaite), Abel (Flanagan), Magowan, Iley, Jameson. Subs not used; Leahy, Chapman, Toth.
Referee: Mr R Clark. Assistants: K McKitterick & I Quinn
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