It's fair to say that this defeat was somewhat harsh on Consett. This was a fairly even contest that could really have gone either way, but as the Steelmen are discovering to their cost, when you're at the bottom Lady Luck has a habit of deserting you.

Gareth McKenna and Johnny Brown returned in place of the unavailable Rod Butler and Darren Grimes. The other change to the side that were beaten by Marske three days earlier saw Mark Lee come in for Chris Hodgson.

Mark Lee shoots narrowly wide.

Consett started the game brightly and the early exchanges were quite even. Mark Lee had Consett's first effort at goal in the 17th minute when he stepped up to take a free kick outside the Roofing area, but it sailed well over. Four minutes later the home side threatened when Clegg made a terrific run to the by-line and his cross was headed just over by Phelps. Midway through the first half Consett put together a neat move which ended with McLeod breaking into the box before squaring to Green, whose shot n the turn was straight at Hoggeth in the Jarrow goal.

Steve Smith keeps a close eye on Clegg.

Consett were certainly holding their own at this point, but the game turned on a sequence of events on the half hour mark. Johnny Brown was harshly penalised on the edge of his own area when it seemed that if anything he was being fouled. The free kick was taken quickly by Clegg and Platten reacted well to make an excellent fingertip stop. From the resulting corner though Paul Chow swept a shot goalwards which struck a Consett defender and looped up and over the helpless Platten. To add insult to injury, there was a suggestion that Chow's effort was probably going wide.

The visitors continued to cause their hosts problems though and could have been level within four minutes. Mark Lee swung over a corner from the right wing and Richie Lognonne connected with a fine glancing header, but unfortunately for Consett it was straight at the keeper. Shortly before half time Stewart of Jarrow intercepted a stray pass from Neil Lowdon and broke down the left before pulling the ball back for Chow who forced another good save from Platten - thus maintaining the one goal deficit at half time

Half Time: Jarrow 1-0 Consett

The second half set off at a cracking pace with three clear chances in the opening three minutes - two for Roofing one for Consett.

First Nelson got past Consett's Steve Smith and fired in a shot which Platten got down well to save. The ball however bounced over the prostrate keeper and continued towards the goal, but James recovered to save at the second attempt. A minute later Colin McLeod managed to get a shot on target despite being crowded out by defenders and falling backwards, Hoggeth saved easily on that occasion. Then moments later it was back up the other end, as Stewart skipped past the challenge of Gareth McKenna before presenting a chance to Quinn which he blazed well over the bar.

Roofing watch as a Consett effort grazes the post.

After the early ding-dong exchanged it was Consett who dominated the second half with McKenna very much pulling the strings. First of all he went on a mazy run down the right before pulling the ball back to Mark Lee who shot just wide. Then just after the hour mark it was the same two players in action as McKenna's free kick was met by Lee at the near post, but again his touch was just past the post. Three minutes later McKenna tried his luck himself from 30 yards and Hoggeth was at full stretch to save it.

Gareth McKenna takes on a defender

Twenty minutes from the end Mark Lee played a one two with McLeod before shooting under pressure but once again it was wide of the target. All the Steelmen's efforts were failing to produce the required equaliser, and as the game wore on so they drifted out of the game, leaving Roofing to seize the initiative.

Son after Lee's effort, Chow beat the Consett offside trap and Platten had to be out smartly to save at his feet. Then Quinn got to the by-line before pulling back a great cross for Chow who headed well wide when he should have done better.

Roofing's pressure continued to mount, but unlike their visitors they managed to convert the pressure into a goal seven minutes from time. The ball was played down the left channel for Clegg who took it into the area, cut inside the defender and then hammered in a low shot that beat Platten at the near post. The second goal gave the score a very lop-sided look as this was a very even contest, but Consett's failure to take anything from this game may well have damaging consequences at the end of the season.