Consett missed the opportunity to lift themselves out of the relegation zone with this home defeat to Jarrow Roofing. With Prudhoe not playing again until Saturday, a point would have been enough for Consett to climb to 17th place on goal difference, and to be fair that was the very least they deserved from this game.

Chris Hodgson returned for Consett in place of Gareth McKenna who was injured in Saturday’s win over Durham City. Otherwise, the Steelmen were unchanged as they went in search of back-to-back wins for the first time this season.

Green breaks into the area before being fouled for the penalty

The match was played on a clear but cold night, with an icy gale whipping down the pitch from the Civic Centre end of the ground. Roofing kicked off with this wind at their backs, but it was Consett who had the better of the early exchanges. Their early dominance brought rewards in the 13th minute when Andrew Green forced his way past a Jarrow defender and was brought down in the area. Colin McLeod struck the resulting penalty well enough but Hoggeth got down well to save low to his left.

Roofing responded well and had a couple of half chances to take the lead themselves, but on 25 minutes Consett had another gilt-edged chance to opening the scoring. Johnny Brown drove in a free kick from the half way line which cleared the heads of the visiting defence, leaving Mark Lee in behind them with just the keeper to beat, but Hoggeth again denied Consett.

Green outnumbered three to one

Three minutes later the home side were made to pay for failing to take the lead whilst having the better of the game. Lee Compton hit a 40-yard free kick hard and low towards the Consett goal and Craig Coates connected with it to divert the ball over Platten and into the net.

Having taken the lead against the run of play, Roofing took control of the game and could have made it two ten minutes before half time when Platten saved well at the feet of Paul Chow. Jarrow’s leading scorer got on the scoresheet three minutes later though when a wind-assisted long ball forward deceived the Consett defence. Chow read its flight better, and toe-poked it over the head of Platten before nodding it into the unguarded goal.

Half Time: Consett 0-2 Jarrow

Consett, playing with the wind, began the second half very brightly and twice in the opening ten minutes could have pulled a goal back. First Lee played a neat one-two with McLeod before jabbing the ball just wide, then Darren Grimes hit a fine first time shot on the turn following a Green flick on but again it was off target.

After this early flurry though Consett lost their momentum somewhat, and the second half degenerated into an untidy mess as the wind strengthened. Seventeen minutes from time the visitors almost snatched a third when Chow went on a strong run down the right channel before shooting across Platten, but the Consett custodian got his fingertips to the ball to turn it away for a corner.

McLeod denied by a covering defender

As the game entered its last ten minutes the Steelmen upped the tempo and were unfortunate not to score. Good work from the ever-improving Green set up McLeod on the edge of the area but his fine strike was well saved by Hoggeth. Moments later, from the resulting left wing Lee corner, McLeod was denied again when his stooping header forced an even better save out of Hoggeth, this time producing fine reactions to tip the ball over from just under the bar.

Possibly sensing that this just wasn’t to be their night, Consett’s efforts subsided in the closing stages and in the end the visitors hung on to complete the double over the Steelmen.

Full Time: Consett 0-2 Jarrow