Consett's first game of 2009 ended in a 1-1 draw at Ashington's new home of Woodhorn Lane. The result extended the Steelmen's unbeaten run to seven games, but they will undoubtedly look at this as two points dropped.

Manager Ken Lindoe made just one change from the side held to a draw by fellow title challengers Dunston Fed seven days earlier, with defender David Johnson, making his first start since reversing his decision to retire from the game, in place of the injured Mark Gaffney.

Despite dominating the first half Consett went in at the break goalless having squandered several good chances. The tone was set in the opening ten minutes when first Mattie Moffat then Adam Emson missed the target from good scoring positions.

On 12 minutes a defensive mix up dropped kindly to Moffat who was left clean through with just the keeper to beat but he dragged wide the sort of chance he’d have buried nine times out of ten.

Jonjo Dickman prepares to pull the trigger

David Pounder shoots over the bar

It was half an hour before the home side created a chance worthy of the name, and it came when Robbie Cockburn and Christian Graham worked the ball across area to Stephen Hutchinson who sent a dipping volley just over.

Consett’s best chance of the half came on 35 minutes when Gary Ormston made a great run down the right before laying the ball on a plate for Moffat, but he scuffed his shot and the Ashington rearguard managed to scramble it away for corner.

The Colliers teenage keeper Kyle Hayes was having a busy afternoon and he did well four minutes before the break to catch a Jonjo Dickman 30-yard free kick destined for the top corner.

On the stroke of half time a swift Consett counter-attack ended with Ormston slashing wide from just inside box, in keeping with the level of finishing seen in the previous 45 minutes.

The Steelmen carried on bearing down on the Ashington goal in the second half and shortly after Moffat had fired in a shot from the edge of the area which Hayes palmed away for a corner, the Colliers keeper made a brave save from the incoming Carl Piecha after Ormston had headed a right wing cross into the danger area.

Consett were denied what looked a clear penalty in the 62nd minute when Adam Emson was hauled down in the area, however they took the lead anyway two minutes later when Mattie Moffat reached Dickman's through ball ahead of the advancing keeper to prod home.

Colliers almost struck back within a few minutes when full back Ross Atkinson intercepted a stray pass to fire in a good hit at Gilmore. Within seconds though Moffat set up Scott who dispatched a venomous strike inches wide of the Ashington goal.

Ashington manager Andy Gowans responded to going behind by bringing Gareth Bainbridge and veteran striker Alan Hogg into the fray. Ken Lindoe responded by switching to a 4-4-2 formation with Ormston moving to right back. However any hopes that this would negate the Colliers attacking threat were soon dashed.

Mattie Moffat keeps Hayes busy

Gary Ormston chases a loose ball

Ten minutes from time Consett breathed a sigh of relief when, after Cockburn had found the net with a back post header, the goal was disallowed for the Colliers forward climbing on the back of his marker.

Consett continued to look very brittle at the back and when Gilmore came for the same cross as one of his defenders, chaos ensued in the area and the visitors managed to scamble it away for a corner.

Seven minutes from time a Scott shot was deflected into the path of Dickman who saw his strike parried away for corner. On 86 minutes though Consett almost shot themselves in the foot again when Gilmore sliced an attempted clearance to substitute Hogg, but his attempted chip into the vacant net went just wide.

With the home side finishing the game in the ascendancy the visiting supporters were grateful to have hung on for a point in the end, although Spennymoor capitalised by beating West Allotment to close the gap to just three points behind the Steelmen with two games in hand.