Dunston FC v Consett AFC
FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round Replay
Tuesday 13th August 2019
Match report by Danny Whalen.
Dunston FC emerged victorious in a seven goal thriller at The UTS Stadium, down in part to the ruthless finishing ability of hat- trick hero Mark Fitzpatrick. Speaking before the game Dunston FC assistant manager Chris Errington said, “ They had better quality on Saturday and I thought we were poor. Consett done to us what we done to sides last season. At times we were disjointed but I thought Craig Scott changed the game. We need to go out tonight and show our quality ”.
Dunston certainly done what was asked of them in the first half by starting brightly, Consett keeper Kyle Hayes was forced into a double, firstly from Mark Fitzpatrick and then from Dan Halliday’s follow up.
Consetts first effort saw Karl Dryden tip over a Jake Stafford free kick from a dangerous position. Liam Brooks spurned a good chance to give Dunston the lead, mis-queuing his effort wide having been played in by a Luke Page cushioned header from superb Liam Brooks crossfield ball. Dunston took the lead on 16 minutes; a Dan Halliday ball to the back post was looped back over by Dan Capewell, his effort looking goal bound as Mark Fitzpatrick made sure with a powerful header from close range.
Consett went close to an equaliser as Luke Carr rattled the cross bar with a powerful effort from long range. Jake Stafford saw his effort at the near post turned away well by Karl Dryden as Consett looked for the equaliser. Consett would rue their missed chances as Dunston took a two goal lead on 35 minutes, Mark Fitzpatrick on strike again finishing from close range having received the ball from Luke Page who had done well to hold off his marker from a long Dan Halliday throw in. Shortly after the goal Liam Marrs was forced from the field of play with a hip injury and was to be replaced by Callum Little who has recently returned to Dunston. Dunston extended their lead through Liam Brooks on 39 minutes, collecting a chipped pass from Luke Page, he controlled well to place his shot into the bottom corner.
Three minutes later Dunston struck another to give themselves a four goal lead, Micheal Pearson showed great vision to loft his pass from deep on the halfway line over the Consett defence to an on running Mark Fitzpatrick, who nonchalantly chipped the keeper to complete his hat trick and put Dunston 4-0 to the good going into half time.
Whatever was said in the Consett dressing room at half time had an instant impact. Within the space of 6minutes of the restart the Steelmen scored twice. Both goals coming from set pieces, Purewal unmarked at the back post guided his header past Dryden from a corner.
Two minutes later former Dunston player Calvin Smith flicked his header past Dryden from a Luke Carr free kick to reduce areas. Consett had come out of the blocks for the second half superbly and were in no mood to make it easy for Dunston. They retained the ball well with their intricate passing game, which at times could be accused of overplaying. Dunston eventually got into the game following a nervy opening to the second half.
Callum Little fired just wide of the upright, Dan Lowther forcing a good save from Hayes from long range. However Consett were looking to control the tempo of the game and push for a third goal as the game went end to end. Callum Little went close for the home side with a long range effort from a wide position.
Dunston had defended tightly and deep in order to prevent Consett a third goal. The game was put to bed in the last minute of the game, Liam Brooks picked out Dan Hallidays run and with Consett pushed on the captain drilled his shot diagonally towards the bottom corner only for the ball to be deflected by a defender with the keeper going the wrong way.
Final score,
Dunston FC 5 ( Fitzpatrick 17, 36, 42, Brooks 39, Halliday 90)
Consett AFC 2. (Purewal 51, Smith 52)
Dunston UTS Supporters Club Man of the Match awarded to: Mark Fitzpatrick.
