Consett picked up a valuable point from this hard fought and entertaining encounter with third placed Billingham. The game went one way and then the other and in the end either side could have claimed the victory.

Consett were without striker Colin McLeod, injured against Gateshead, and Johnny Brown, but Lee Suddes returned from an ankle knock, while Stuart Kelly was fit enough to wear the goalkeeper’s jersey. Skipper Jeff Sugden made his 500th competitive appearance for The Steelmen.

Unfortunately for Suddes he didn’t last long as another knock on his ankle saw him replaced by Neil Lowdon after only five minutes. However, it was the home side that created the first chance when Tony Halliday headed over at the far post from Chris Hodgson’s cross. But The Steelmen had an escape a minute later when Town’s Baverstock burst into the area but he shot wide as Kelly narrowed the angle.

After 17 minutes Consett took the lead. Halliday pulled the ball back from the by-line to the edge of the area and Lowdon hit a well struck shot into the bottom corner leaving the keeper rooted to the spot. But the lead lasted only four minutes. Baverstock ran onto a throughball and this time as Kelly hesitated he drilled the ball past the stranded keeper.

Just after the half hour Sugden’s flick header at the front post from Ian Davison’s corner went just over the top. But the visitors struck again to take the lead after 36 minutes. Again Baverstock, who was a thorn in the side of the Consett rearguard in the first half, was involved. His pace took him past Rod Butler and with rest of the defence nowhere he squared the ball to Turner who only had to put the ball into the empty net. 

Half Time: Consett 1-2 Billingham

Consett started the second half brightly and Andrew Thompson tried his luck from 20 yards, his shot dipping narrowly over. But The Steelmen levelled after 55 minutes. Lowdon crossed the ball in from the left, Hodgson’s shot was blocked by a defender but the ball fell nicely for Scott Wilson who turned and shot into the corner of the net, his first goal for the club.

Consett twice went close to taking the lead as they enjoyed the upper hand for a spell. Darren Grimes played a 1-2 with Hodgson but he shot straight at keeper Collier. Then Wilson’s cross into the box was almost met by Hodgson as the keeper failed to claim. But The Steelmen did take the lead after 73 minutes. Hodgson skipped past a defender on the by-line and passed the ball into the six yard box where defender Richard Gaston sliced his clearance straight into the back of the net.

But again the lead was short lived as Billingham equalised two minutes later. Turner flicked the ball into the path of Gallacher who made no mistake, firing into the roof of the net from 10 yards. In a tense finale Consett almost took the points in stoppage time when Hodgson cut in from the left but his shot curled well over.