Dunston back with a deserved win against Consett

17th October 2015
EBAC Northern League Division 1
Dunston UTS 3
Consett 1
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Dunston returned to a home fixture after 4 successive away fixtures which have only gleaned 2 pts and welcome Consett to the Dunston UTS Stadium for the EBAC Northern League Division 1 game. Consett have had a good start to the season and are currently above Dunston who are still in the top ten. Manager Billy Irwin makes changes from Wednesdays defeat although Halliday is still injured and unable to take part in what is hoped will be a better team performance.
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The game started with both sides feeling their way Consett win a corner on 2 minutes but the Dunston defence got it clear and then Thear played a through ball for Morien which just had too much pace on it. On 6 minutes Sweet played in a free kick which Gilhespy cleared. Dunston took the lead on 8 as a Thear free kick into the back post found Martindale on hand to poke home, bringing a relief to the Dunston side.
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Playing with a lot more confidence, Dunston began to control the game and on 9, Thear went into box and laid a ball off to Burrell who shot wide of the target, in 13 Francis played into Thear who flicked it through to Richardson who had unfortunately strayed offside. On 15 Dunston lost Francis to a leg injury and he was replaced by Matty Fisher. From Fisher’s first touch he fed in Morien who shot home from 15 yards for 2-0 to Dunston. Consett replied as King played in Sweet, but the out coming Connell did enough to ensure that Sweets shot went wide of the target.
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On 21 Richardson played a neat interchange with Thear on the edge of the box, resulting in a Thear low cross into the area and past the far post. Play settled for a while with both defences holding out well and on 33 Michael Pearson had Dunston fans hearts in their mouths as he broke up a Dunston attack and headed back to Connell who collected just under the cross bar. On 35 Dunston almost went further ahead as a Richardson header struck the bar from a Dale Pearson free kick into the back post, this relief for Consett was short lived as on 37 Thear played in a cross to the back post and Morien was on hand to head into the top corner to make it 3-0.
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A minute later it could have been 4 as Richardson fed Morien who struck the ball well onto see it crash off the bar and get cleared. As the game approached half time Michael Pearson tried to feed Morien through on goal but the pass just had too much pace, in added on time former Dunston player Danny Craggs unleashed a shot from the edge of the box and Connell did well to save low down diving to his right.
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Half Time score 3-0 to Dunston.
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Consett introduced substitutes for both full backs at half time in an attempt to strengthen their defence and it was Consett who got the first opportunity of the half as Sweets first attempt was blocked and his second attempt at the rebound went wide of the target. On 50 Smith for Consett crossed to the back post where Mackay headed just wide. Dunston rallied and on 62, a quick free kick on halfway from Richardson to Morien put him in one v one on Jeffries, Jefferies did well to force Morien wide and out of play, a minute later Dan Smith broke on the right wing and his cross into the back post was just too hard for Morien to control.
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On 68 Hewitson on as a substitute for Morien had a shot past the far post. Consett were trying to get back in the game and on 70 they forced a corner which the Dunston defence cleared. On 74 Sweet received a ball in the 18 yard box, looking well off side as Dunston waited for the whistle Sweet played the ball past Connell and into the net 3-1 to Dunston. Buoyed by their goal Consett rallied as Sullivan crossed for Sweet who headed wide of the far post.
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On 83 Mackay was dribbling across the Dunston box before a timely challenge prevented a shot and the ball was cleared. With the came into added on tie Richardson fed in Hewitson who was just unable to control and shoot on target as Jefferies came out to collect the ball.
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Full time Score: Dunston 3 Consett 1
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After a short spell Dunston took control of the game and scored 3 good goals before half time. The second half was a bit more even and the only goal by Consett was well taken although looked offside and was little more than a consolation. Dunston battled well as a team and built up a lot of confidence lost in the past few games 
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Dunston’s Man of the Match: Liam Thear – Liam worked his magic in the first half and created chances, understandably his work rate was stemmed in the second half against a fresh full back, but was still able to be a thorn in the Consett side. Other good performances came from Gilhespy in defence and Fisher who worked hard in midfield. 

Dunston UTS: Connell, Pearson M, Pearson D, Burrell (Hodgson 52), Martindale, Gilhespy, Smith D, Francis (Fisher 15), Richardson, Morien (Hewitson 67), Thear. Subs not used: Wilkinson, Clark,
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Consett: Jeffies, Buzzeo (Lavery 45), Brown (Slocombe 45) Little, McKinnon, Smith C, Grant, Craggs, Sweet, Mackay, Ryan (Sullivan 57). Subs not used McLane, Hall.
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Referee, James Simpson, Assistants, Kevin McKitterick, Mark Ryan
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Report by T.C.
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Next Home Game: EBAC Northern League - vs Bishop Auckland on Wednesday 20th October 2015 7:30 pm KO