The Fountain FC 2 vs 6 Consett Steel Club First

The Fountain FC hosted Consett Steel Club First at Delves Lane Community Association Pitch on the morning of 2 August 2026, with kick-off at 10:30am.

The Fountain FC lined up in a 4-2-1-3 formation, aiming to balance defensive solidity with attacking flair. Andy Gowland took his place between the sticks as goalkeeper. The back four consisted of Brandon Fitzgerald at right back, Dan Cave and Jonny Thirlaway as central defenders, and Nathan Sterling on the left flank. In midfield, Ian Johnstone and David Sowunmi operated as the two holding central midfielders, tasked with breaking up play and distributing the ball forward. Ahead of them, Similoluwa Afilaka played as the attacking midfielder, linking midfield and attack. The front three featured Rowan Latimer on the right wing, Favour Ekomemen as the central striker, and Lewis Currie on the left wing, expected to provide width and goal threat. The substitutes named were Malachi Martin, Damo Freeman, and Matthew Dunn.

The match began positively for The Fountain FC, with an early breakthrough in the 10th minute on a counter attack. Rowan Latimer delivered a precise cross into the box, which Lewis Currie expertly converted inside the area to give the hosts the lead. However, Consett Steel responded strongly, coming into the game more and more as the half progressed, creating a great chance in the 20th minute that required a good save from Gowland, followed up by a stupendous tackle by Brandon to withhold the lead.

The Fountain would go on the counter attack time and time again, dominating possession for major sections of the match, with Favour, Simi, and Lewis Currie being gifted with one-on-one chances that should have been converted, but were hit softly, or parried away.

Consett Steel’s applied the pressure which eventually paid off just before the interval. At 38 minutes, the Steel Club committed a foul on Ryan Sterling down the line, that went unnoticed by the ref, before playing the ball around on the edge of the box, swinging in a cross, headered at goal and saved by Gowland on the line, before being pushed back out straight into the line of the Steel Club striker, who tapped in the leveller, signalling the start of a difficult spell for The Fountain FC defence. The visitors then struck twice more before half-time, scoring two headed goals in quick succession at 40 and 44 minutes, turning the game on its head and leaving The Fountain FC trailing 3-1 at the break.

At half-time, The Fountain FC made a tactical substitution, replacing David Sowunmi with Malachi Martin to try and regain midfield control. The second half saw Consett Steel extend their advantage further when they converted a penalty in the 55th minute, increasing their lead to 4-1.

The Fountain FC showed resilience and pulled a goal back shortly after. In the 60th minute, Favour Ekomemen dispossessed the goalkeeper, getting cocky with the ball at his feet, before providing a neat short pass to Similoluwa Afilaka, who finished confidently inside the box. This goal sparked a brief revival and highlighted Afilaka’s influence in the attacking midfield role, earning him the man of the match accolade.

Consett Steel quickly restored their four-goal cushion with a powerful strike from outside the box in the 63rd minute. The visitors continued to press, and at 72 minutes, they added a close-range tap-in to make it 6-2, effectively sealing the contest.

The Fountain FC made further tactical changes in the latter stages, bringing on Damo Freeman for Nathan Sterling at 65 minutes to bolster the defence and later substituting goalkeeper Andy Gowland for Matthew Dunn at 75 minutes, perhaps to give the young keeper some valuable game time.

Despite the heavy defeat, The Fountain FC’s attacking trio of Latimer, Ekomemen, and Currie showed glimpses of promise, while Afilaka’s creativity in midfield was a standout feature. Consett Steel’s clinical finishing and physical presence proved decisive, leaving The Fountain FC with plenty to work on ahead of the new season.