Consett’s Northern League championship hopes suffered a severe blow with this defeat against mid-table Shildon. The result leaves The Steelmen a massive 22 points behind leaders Durham City with six games in hand.

With four defenders unavailable through either injury or suspension, Manager Kenny Lindoe stuck with the same eleven that had beaten Chester-le Street in midweek.

With a gusting wind and a lively pitch, most of the action and all of the goals came in the opening half, and Consett almost took the lead in the opening minute. Steve Johnson broke away down the left and played the ball across the box towards Mattie Moffat but home keeper Spence was alive to the danger to grab the ball at the striker’s feet.

However, it was the home side who took the lead after six minutes when Masters ran onto a through ball, outpacing the defence, and fired past the helpless Craig Turns. Masters almost repeated the dose five minutes later with a similar move but this time Turns made a fine save.

At the other end, Consett almost levelled when from Moffat’s cross David Colvin nudged the ball goalwards but Spence saved with his leg and the ball was half cleared. When it was played back into the box by Craig Robson, Gary Ormston’s header was well saved by Spence diving to his left.

After 24 minutes Moffat volleyed narrowly over the bar after Ormston’s cross had been headed down by Colvin. Just after the half hour Masters should have doubled the home side’s lead when he beat the offside, rounded Turns but with the goal at his mercy he shot across the goalmouth.

He was made to pay for that miss almost immediately as Consett scored on their next attack. Ormston’s surge into the box was halted illegally by Ankers and Moffat fired his spot kick high into the roof of the net.

Chances still continued at both ends with Niven’s 30 yard free-kick forcing Turns to tip over while for Consett Johnson was thwarted by Spence after a great pass by Steven Brown.

But The Railwaymen went ahead for the second time after 42 minutes when, from a cross from the right, Masters headed the ball home just as Turns seemed to have the ball in his grasp. Turns did well two minutes later to keep the deficit to one when Niven’s free-kick bounced awkwardly in front of him and he deflected it over the bar.

Half Time: Shildon 2-1 Consett

There was less goalmouth action in the second period as Consett failed to use the wind to their advantage.

Masters set up Radu after 54 minutes but his shot was well held by Turns. On the hour Consett brought new signing Andrew Thompson into the fray and a minute later Spence got down well to hold a shot from Brown.

There was little further action until the final ten minutes. Consett’s Ormston had a shot saved by Spence following a neat build up while Shildon substitute Emson shot into the side netting after breaking away.

In a frantic final few minutes Ormston again went close heading narrowly wide from Brown’s cross. In stoppage time Emson broke clear again but shot over.

Consett almost snatched a point in the second minute of added time when, from John Ewart’s cross, Moffat’s header hit the foot of the post, but in truth The Steelmen hardly deserved to take anything from the game.

Full Time: Shildon 2-1 Consett

ANDREW PEARSON