The Steelmen carried on where they left off on Wednesday and tore into the visitors straight from the kick off. In the second minute a poor clearance by the Blue Star defence went straight to Colin McLeod and his carefully measured effort from distance was pushed round the post by the back-pedalling keeper. From the resulting corner though, Consett took the lead as Lee Suddes's flag-kick was headed into his own net by Gary Smith. (NB don't believe what it says in The Pink, Chris Hodgson was nowhere near it).

Six minutes later Consett thought they had doubled their lead when a brilliantly executed volley from the edge of the box was parried by the keeper, and Colin McLeod knocked in the rebound. Unfortunately the linesman was flagging for offside and the goal did not stand.

Macca hammers one home, but is offside.

Consett continued to dominate for the first 20 minutes of the game, so it was disappointing when, from their first meaningful attack, Blue Star equalised. Stuart Kelly underhit a clearance having been put under pressure and the ball was quickly returned to Michael Cowan who made no mistake from the edge of the box.

The home side were still having the better of things though, and could have regained the lead eight minutes later when McLeod pulled a shot narrowly wide from the edge of the box. Moments later, Gareth McKenna jinked into the box and his left footed shot was very well saved by Bennett.

McKenna and McLeod were both involved again 10 minutes later when the former played a slide rule pass into the latter, which Macca dispatched from 10 yards, but for the second time in the half he was denied by the offside flag. Then three minutes from half time Darren Grimes' floated effort from 25 yards clipped the top of the bar and went over.

Having considered themselves unfortunate to have gone in at half time level, Consett were soon facing the reality of being behind in a game they had dominated for the most part. A short back pass from Ian Davison was cut out by Michael Cunningham, he squared for Ian Mills who, despite stumbling, knocked home Star's second from close range. In each of Consett's three home games this season they've conceded within a few minutes of the restart.

Roy Gordon puts pressure on Blue Star's Cowan.

The home side got back on level terms in the 63rd minute. McLeod was fouled on the edge of the centre circle, but the referee played a good advantage, and Andrew Thompson hit a 30 yard thunderbolt in off the underside of the bar. With Consett back in the game it was hoped that they would go on to win it, however within four minutes the Star were back in front. The referee awarded a free kick on the edge of the box and while Consett were forming their wall, Stephen Thompson took it quickly and curled a shot into the corner of the net to Kelly's left.

Thomma's free kick is easily saved.

Soon after Blue Star's third a deep cross from McKenna found Grimes at the back post, but he failed to make a good connection with his header and it went harmlessly wide. Ten minutes later Grimes again came close to getting on the scoresheet when his 25 yard drive went just past the keeper's left hand post. Star were quite content to soak up Consett pressure and hit on the break though, and they could have had a fourth when substitute Graeme McDonald, within seconds of coming on, got behind the home side's rearguard forcing a fine one handed stop from Kelly.

In the end though the points went back to Woolsington, and Consett still await their first league win. Two more home games against sides at the wrong end of the table - Dunston and Morpeth - follow this one. If they're still winless after those it might be time to start worrying.

Full Time: Consett 2-3 Blue Star

JPH