Grimsby Borough 1-2 Consett: Match Report

Grimsby Borough 1-2 Consett: Match Report

The Wilderness Boys hosted midtable Consett at the Technica Home of Grimsby Borough on Saturday looking for three points to kick-start what has been a difficult 2026/27 season thus far.

Instead, however, they conceded late on to lose by two goals to one, despite controlling large parts of the game once again.

Tom Claisse named the same starting XI from the midweek trip to Stocksbridge, with Heath Richardson in goal, behind a back four of Billy Bradley, Bismark Osei, Tom Sawyer, and skipper Sam Topliss.

Alex Flett, Josh Venney, and Josh Clarke took up roles in the engine room, while Tristan Drummond and Luke Ayris offered the width. Charlie Clements began as the lone frontman.

There were a couple of changes on the bench, however, with Bradley Wood and Jack Barlow missing out, meaning Bailey Wright and goalkeeper Hayden Rogers joined Paul Walker, Kieron Ceesay, and Harvey Cribb among the substitutes.

First-Half

The visitors got us underway on a breezy afternoon at the Bradley Football Development Centre. Though, once the game settled down, it was Borough who made the early running without creating too many clear-cut opportunities.

The final ball was often lacking as they got into good areas with regularity, and it was Consett who had the first real chance, a free header from a set-piece sailing high and wide.

The Wilderness Boys were seeing a lot of the ball, particularly down their left, with Ayris cutting in to fire wide from distance as we reached the halfway point of the first period.

Clarke was playing in an advanced role, looking to provide support for Clements, and the former Brentford man was next to try his luck, his deflected strike fizzing across goal and wide for a corner.

Borough kept probing, however, and got their reward on 40 minutes as more nice link-up play in opposition territory saw Clarke cross for Clements to take a touch and fire into the bottom corner to give his side the lead.

That positive momentum continued for the remainder of the half, with Clarke finding space on the edge of the box and shooting wide before the referee signalled for half-time.

Second-Half

The Wilderness Boys got proceedings restarted, looking to find the same rhythm and flow with which they’d ended the first-half.

However, it was Consett who began the better, winning a host of fouls in dangerous positions. Steelmen defender Michael Ledger headed the first over the bar, but the same man made no mistake a couple of minutes later, levelling the score from close range following some pinball around the Borough box.

With 57 minutes on the clock, the visitors thought they’d taken the lead. However, after consultation between the officials, the deflected strike was ruled out for offside, much to the relief of Borough and frustration of the visitors

Shortly after, the Wilderness Boys almost re-established their lead, with a superb cross from the left headed agonisingly on to the crossbar by Ayris, with the ball bouncing away to safety.

Borough were beginning to get on the front foot once more, with Ayris’ teasing cross just evading everyone as we entered the final quarter of the clash.

Ceesay replaced Flett with 20 minutes to go, joining Clements up front, and the attacker was soon in the action, dropping deep to pick up the ball and running at the Steelmen defence.

Billy Bradley made a timely challenge to prevent Consett on the counter, before Drummond’s powerful drive on 77 minutes flew over the bar as the Wilderness Boys applied the pressure.

Wright, Walker, and Cribb replaced Ayris, Bradley, and Clements with five minutes remaining. However, Borough were dealt a late sucker punch just moments later as a misplaced backpass allowed Thompson to square for Donny Holdsworth to tap into an empty net, with Richardson left stranded.

The Wilderness Boys tried to get back into it in the few minutes that remained, but were unable to carve out anything of note, with the visitors goalkeeper claiming multiple crosses in the final stages as Consett held on for the points.

It was a familiar tale for Borough, who competed well and deserved more on the balance of play. However, individual errors at crucial times proved costly once again.

We are next in action on Saturday, September 26th (3pm kick-off), when we make the long trip up to Heaton Stannington in search of a much-needed victory.