Macca puts Consett 2-1 in front.

Consett made a successful start to this season's FA Cup campaign with a victory over Pontefract Collieries of the Northern Counties East Division One that was somewhat less comfortable than the scoreline would suggest. Colin Carr made a couple of changes to the team that played so well at Tow Law on Tuesday, Rod Butler and Andrew Thompson returning in midfield for Tony Halliday and Scott Wilson respectively. Prior to the game a minute's silence was observed for the Soham schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman.

Pontefract had the better of the early stages and carved out the first chance of the game in the third minute when an awkward bounce evaded Jeff Sugden presenting Judd Colley with a chance but Stuart Kelly saved well. After surviving some early pressure Consett came back into the game but didn't really test Hepworth in visitors goal. Indeed the game became quite scrappy and only really sprang to life when Consett took the lead in the 23rd minute. Lee Suddes floated an excellent free kick from the right into the Collieries area, and Johnny Brown ran unchallenged to meet it with a glancing header 10 yards out which nestled in the bottom corner.

Consett could have gone further ahead when Sugden rose above the crowd to meet Lee Suddes' inswinging corner with a deft back header but the ball went wide of the post. In the closing stages of the half Pontefract increased the pressure on the Consett goal and were unlucky not to equalise three minutes before the break. A lovely through ball from Dean Wilson found Chris Daniel in the box and his shot was deflected into the side netting by Ian Davison. From the resulting corner Paul Nodder rose well and headed goalwards but Kelly held on to the effort well.

Half Time: Consett 1-0 Pontefract

For the second home game in a row Consett were caught cold after the break, as the visitors drew level within 40 seconds of the restart. A cross from deep on the left was headed goalwards by Daniel, and although Kelly saved brilliantly at full stretch the ball broke free for Wilson to slide in and knock it home from close range.

Thompson lets fly from distance.

Consett's response was awesome as they created chance after chance in a fifteen minute spell which was ultimately to culminate in a goal. Chris Hodgson broke clear of the defence only to shoot narrowly wide under pressure. Then Hodgson, whose tireless running down the left channel was causing the visitors all sorts of problems, cut inside and shot narrowly over. Eventually the pressure told and Consett regained the lead. Lee Suddes brought the ball forward on the right and played in Hodgson again, he pulled it back for Rod Butler whose shot was blocked on the line by Colley with the keeper beaten. Colin McLeod however was quickest to react and he hooked the ball home from six yards.

Suddes gets in a block.

Consett kept pressing and on 71 minutes the excellent Hodgson once again turned his marker inside out and shot narrowly over from the edge of the box. This was the cue for Pontefract to raise their game and were Consett were pressed back into their own half for long spells. Despite this though the visitors never really looked like getting the equaliser as the Steelmen defended resolutely.

With two minutes to and the score at 2-1 the tie was still evenly poised however it was Consett who provided the killer blows. McLeod hooked the ball cleverly over his shoulder and into the path of the onrushing Grimes. He spotted the keeper off his line and tried an audacious lob from 30 yards which just cleared the crossbar. Moments later though McLeod put the result beyond doubt when he broke clear of the Collieries defence and hit a low left foot shot in off the far post. Then with the game deep in injury time Consett were awarded a free kick in Davison Territory, and the Consett defender sent yet another special soaring into the roof of Hepworth's net.

So a comfortable win in the end but Consett were made to work very hard for their victory and 4-1 was harsh on the visitors. Consett now progress to the Preliminary Round where they are scheduled to meet Spennymoor. However at the time of writing Spennymoor are suspended by the FA because of financial problems and if the suspension is not lifted we will be given a bye into the First Qualifying Round, where Ashington or Colne await.

Hepworth saves bravely at Hodgson's feet.

Full Time: Consett 4-1 Pontefract

JPH