Consett and Hebburn share points in eight-goal thriller

Ebac Northern League Division 1

Consett 4-4 Hebburn Town

Carr 7          Dibb-Fuller 4

Pearson 41 Richardson 47

Metz 53       Armstrong 50

Verstraaten 90 Robson 73

Consett and Hebburn shared the points in an eight-goal thriller at Belle View yesterday.

Ben Dibb-Fuller put the visitors in front early on but his goal was cancelled out by Luke Carr.

Dale Pearson then put Consett in front just before half time, but Hebburn came flying out the blocks early in the second half with goals from Michael Richardson and Graeme Armstrong.

Jermaine Metz then equalised again for the hosts, before Jack Robson put the Hornets in front again.

Wouter Verstraaten snatched an equaliser right at the end for Consett.

Both teams came into the game on unbeaten streaks, with Consett unbeaten in their last five games and Hebburn in their last eight.

It took just four minutes for Kevin Bolam’s side to take the lead when Richardson’s shot was saved and Dibb-Fuller slid home the rebound.

Three minutes later, the hosts equalised when Carr cut in from the right and buried the ball in the bottom right corner.

In the 18th minute, Hebburn came close when Armstrong turned and his shot on the edge of the box was saved.

Chances were few and far between after that until the 41st minute when Consett went in front thanks to Pearson’s strike in the bottom left corner.

The visitors equalised just two minutes into the second half when Dan Groves squared the ball to Richardson who hit the ball on the half volley into the top corner.

Three minutes later, Hebburn were back in front when Armstrong headed home on the end of a corner.

Kevin Bolam’s side’s lead only last three minutes however as Metz’s cross from the right slipped through the hands of Hebburn ‘keeper Andrew Jennison.

20 minutes later, the Hornets scored their fourth of the game when Dibb-Fuller played an impressive long ball towards Robson and the young winger smashed the ball into the top left corner.

Shortly afterwards, Hebburn were forced to play the last 15 minutes with ten men as captain Louis Storey was sent off for a second bookable offence.

In the 85th minute, Consett came very close to equalising when Jake Orrell’s long range strike brought an impressive diving save from Jennison.

Five minutes later, the Steelmen equalised when Verstraaten beat Jennison with a left footed shot just inside the box that took a deflection on its way in.

With four minutes added, Consett piled on the pressure but 10-man Hebburn held out for the draw.

Consett: Hayes, Metz, Purewal (capt), Wilkinson (Verstraaten 72), Holden, Allen, Carr, Orrell, Smith (Ardelean 84), Alshabeeb, Pearson.

Subs not used: Brown, Jakab, McAloon.

Hebburn Town: Jennison, Groves, Donaghy, Carson, Lough, Spence (Taylor 70), Storey (capt), Robson, Richardson, Dibb-Fuller (Suddick 74), Armstrong.

Booked: Groves, Lough, Storey, Spence.

Sent off: Storey.

Attendance: 610