Consett were held to a draw by Bishop Auckland in this FA Cup Preliminary Round tie. In what was possibly Consett’s first ever Sunday game, played at Bishop’s temporary home of West Auckland, the Steelmen cruised into a 3-0 lead, only to then fritter it away in alarming fashion

In a quiet opening, Bishops created the only meaningful chance in the first 20 minutes, Scott Richards crossed to provide Keith Hutchinson with a free header at the back post which he placed wide.

It was to be Bishops only chance of the first period however, as the visitors took a 20th minute lead and dominated the rest of the half. After a ball was played into the right channel, Adam Emson did well to keep it in and his cross was diverted into his own net by Paul Moss. Emson thought he had doubled his tally five minutes later when he converted a Moffat flick on with a cool finish, only to be flagged offside.

Mattie Moffat fends off ex-Steelman Neil Wilkinson

Paul Moss (No. 6) watches his own goal fly in

On the stroke of half time, a Karl Baston throw-in was head out only as far as Brown who volleyed wide, and Consett had to settle for a one goal advantage at the break.

Half time: Bishop 0-1 Consett

The first half was pretty tame to be honest and didn’t really give any indication of the bizarre 45 minutes that were to follow. It took just 24 seconds for Consett to double their lead when Adam Emson broke down the right and played the ball inside to Moffat 6 yards out who had an easy finish to make it 2-0.

Two minutes later Moffat’s sliding pass found Emson whose first time shot brought a tremendous save from Porter as Consett threatened to run riot. At this point though a groggy Moss was led from the field with a broken nose to go with his own goal. His replacement, Lee Ellison, quite simply changed the course of the game.

Bishops pulled one back on 64 minutes when Ellison’s up and under into the box was headed by Gaffney straight to Gavin Parkin who made no mistake. Consett could have restored their three goal advantage two minutes later when Moffat intercepted Neil Wilkinson’s casual pass out of defence, but after taking the ball past the defender, his attempted curler was hit straight at the keeper.

Bishop’s speedy winger Joe Fairish started causing problems down Consett’s left, first with a speedy break which Gilmore came out to save, then by setting up Ellison for a shot that was blocked.

Adam Emson goes in where it hurts

Steven Brown climbs for a header

A twitchy Consett must have sensed safety when the home side were reduced to ten men in the 85th minute, ex-Steelman Gus Di Lella seeing a second yellow for a dangerous lunge. Nevertheless Consett were still on the back foot, and when a long free kick was headed on to Parkin the home striker came within a foot of completing his hat trick with a dipping volley.

A tremendous Cup tie provided entertainment right to the death with Consett coming close to making the game safe in the 89th minute, Emson’s trickery setting up Douglas who saw a shot tipped over the bar.

The sensational climax though came four minutes into stoppage time. Yet another long ball was launched into the Consett box which Gilmore was unable to catch, the ball dropping to Ellison who curled it precisely into the far corner to trigger unbridled celebrations on the home bench.