Ian Davison scores Consett's first goal of the season

Consett picked up their first point of the season with a battling away draw at the home of last season's Northern League runners-up. This was a cracking match with the home side taking the lead only for the Steelmen to come storming back to go 2-1 ahead, but ultimately the spoils were shared. Consett made a couple of changes to the team that were beaten by Guisborough on Saturday. Stuart Kelly came in to replace Andy Colling in goal, Tony Halliday making his first appearance of the season while Darren Grimes dropped back into a re-organised defence to replace the missing Rod Butler.

Tow Law had the advantage of the slope in the first half, but with Consett operating a five man defence they carved out few clear cut chances. Conversely Consett's defensive formation meant that Colin McLeod and Chris Hodgson were left a little isolated up front, so very little was happening in the Tow Law area either. The game eventually sprung to life around the 17 minute mark when Tow Law slung a deep cross from the left into the Consett area which Kraig Wilkinson had to stretch for ad his spectacular diving header went narrowly over. The Lawyers didn't have much longer to wait before they took the lead however. Tow Law were awarded a harshly awarded free kick on the edge of the Consett area, and the impressive Scott Nicholson curled a low shot around the wall and into the bottom corner. The home side continued to press Consett back for the remainder of the second half but never really threatened Stuart Kelly's goal.

Kicking downhill in the second half Consett looked a different side as they threw everything at Tow Law in search of an equaliser. They forced three corners in quick succession, the first of which saw Jeff Sugden beat the Tow Law keeper to the ball only to poke the ball over the bar. The breakthough finally came in the 52nd minute when Consett were awarded a free kick in a similar position to that which Tow Law had scored theirs from. Ian Davison, who must be one of the best dead ball specialists in the Northern League, bent a beauty round the near side of the wall which the keeper could only tip into the roof of the net.

Within 10 minutes it was 2-1, as Lee Suddes' attempted cross from the right sailed over its intended target, and McNary in the Lawyer's goal, and into the back of the net. No-one seemed more surprised than Lee!

Suggs wins a header under pressure.

This inevitably stung Tow Law into action again and play switched back up to the other end. Within a couple of minutes of Consett taking the lead The Lawyers won a right wing corner which was met superbly by full back Carl Beasley, bt his bullet header as brilliantly blocked on the line by Tiger Halliday. Beasley was to have better luck two minutes later when he raced in at the back post to meet a shot from Hunter which was heading wide, and slammed the ball home off the underside of the bar from a couple of yards out. All square again.

McKenna wins a tackle.

The remainder of the second half was end to end stuff, as both teams went in search of the winner. However with both defences putting up a solid rearguard most of the chances were shots from distance. Mark Eccles for the visitors went close with a 25 yarder, and at the other end Tiger went even closer from a similar distance - his effort seeming to clip the crossbar. With 5 minutes remaining Scott Wilson saw his raking effort go narrowly over but the score remained 2-2 and in the end a draw was a fair result.

So a much more promising performance against a team who had opened their account with a 5-2 away win at Blue Star, and who will undoubtedly be there or thereabouts at the end of the season. On Saturday Consett set out on the ever-lengthening Road to Cardiff with an FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round match against Northern Counties East side Pontefract Collieries.