Marske United, undoubtedly Consett's bogey team, left Belle Vue with the three points today, and in the process they completed the double over the Steelmen for the third season in a row. On the face of it then, no surprises in this defeat, but Consett will possibly look at this as a missed opportunity to close the gap on fourth bottom Prudhoe, who were inactive today, to just one point. Following on from the excellent win over Prudhoe in midweek, Colin Carr made just a couple of changes. Rod Butler returned to the defence and Chris Hodgson to midfield in place of Kris Soulsby and the injured Andrew Thompson respectively. This meant that youngters David Hogg and Andrew Green, who had storming games on Wednesday, kept their place in the starting line up.

Brown flicks on a corner for Marske's first goal.

"Games against The Seasiders are usually close fought affairs with few goals, especially here at Belle Vue, but United somehow always manage to win." The words of Andrew Pearson in today's match programme, and they proved to be very prophetic indeed as this contest went pretty much by the numbers. Marske started the brighter of the two sides and were ahead in 9 minutes. From a right wing corner taken by Ward and flicked on by Brown, the ball fond John Woods at the back post who slammed a waist high volley past the helpless Platten.

McLeod captaining from the front.

Five minutes later another set piece taken by Ward, the time a free kick from outside the area, threatened the Consett goal. His effort was curled over the near side of the wall but Platten got down well to save at the foot of the post..

It wasn't until the 33rd minute that the home side fashioned a clear cut chance, but when they did they should have levelled the scores. Hogg swung a free kick to the back post which Green played back across the area, he found Hodgson in the clear 6 yards out but he pulled his effort across the face of goal and wide.

Five minutes before half time Marske had a great chance to extend their lead when Murphy got to the by-line and found Woods at the far post. The Marske midfielder appeared to have set himself well for the volley, but he sliced it well over.

This seemed to spur the home side into action and as half time approached the pressure on the Seasiders goal increased, culminating in an equaliser. On 41 minutes, a flicked on Lee Suddes free kick reached Butler at the back post, however from a standing position he was unable to put any pace on the header, which Flear gathered. 60 seconds later, Andrew Green went on a mesmerising run down the left channel, skipping past a couple of challenges before firing in a shot which was well blocked.

Finally The Steelmen's pressure paid off when Suddes sent a near post corner over from the Consett left, which was flicked on goalwards, and Combellack could only head into his own net.

Half Time: Consett 1-1 Marske

In an echo of the away game at Prudhoe 11 days earlier, Consett, having built up a head of steam before equalising going into half time, the home side lost their momentum by the time of the restart. The second half was dominated by Marske, without them ever threatening to totally run away with the game.

In the 53rd minute, following good approach work by Ward, Marske's man of the match Woods pulled a shot wide from the edge of the area

Chris Hodgson closes down Woods.

Four minutes later, Lee Suddes found himself with a shooting chance from 18 yards, and although he didn't connect with it properly, Flear fumbled at the feet of Green, only to recover and gather the ball. This, some 33 minutes from the end, proved to be the last time Consett troubled the Marske keeper into a save.

Andrew Green breaks into the area.

Marske immediately took play up to the other end of the field. Brown went on a run across the area before laying the ball back to that man Woods again, who shot straight at Platten.

Just after the hour mark, the visitors scored what turned out to be the winner. Knight made his way to the right edge of the Consett area before putting a teasing cross into the area, and Brown left his marker to plant a firm diving header past Platten from six yards out.

Consett were grateful to Platten in the 69th minute for keeping the deficit down to one goal. Ward crossed from the left wing, and the ball was headed on by substitute James, before reaching Alexander in the six yard box. His effort was brilliantly saved at point blank range by the Consett keeper, and he responded equally well to close down the rebound which Alexander put over the bar.

Three minutes later Alexander turned provider with a run down the right flank which was squared to Brown, and his shot was just wide. The game petered out pretty tamely from then on, with Marske never looking like extending their lead and Consett unable to threaten an equaliser.

So Consett remain four points from safety, but with their game in hand now gone. With awkward trips to top half sides Jarrow Roofing and Billingham Town next up Consett face a big challenge to avoid being cast adrift from their relegation rivals.