A BELOW-strength Consett side came so close yet so far away from defeating the Unibond 1st Division leaders with one of their best displays for weeks.

Kenny Lindoe's options were severely limited by the absence of six players. Strikers Paul Robinson and Richard Logan were cup-tied, and midfielders David Pounder and Jonjo Dickman suspended and unavailable respectively.

But his biggest problem was in goal, where Jack Norton was ineligible, and Paul Gilmore unavailable. James Platten has moved to Kent, and without another 'keeper on the books it meant a first start in a year for Paul Curry - as a makeshift goalie.

The only other change to the starting XI beaten at Ryton four days earlier was the return from injury of captain David Johnson, who lined up at left-back in a 4-5-1 formation, with Adam Emson as the lone striker.

Consett were down to such bare bones that they could only name four substitutes, including veteran David Robson and Joe Johnson, whose only previous appearances came in pre-season friendlies.

Durham, who had suffered only their second league defeat of the season at Radcliffe Borough 48 hours earlier, showed their respect for Consett by fielding a strong side, including ex-Steelman Craig Turns in goal.

There was an early scare for Consett when Durham captain Adam Johnson went down in the box under challenge from two defenders as he chased a long ball, but the referee waved play on. Right-back Richard Smith then headed wide from a left-wing free-kick as City started the brighter.

Consett began to get their football going, however, and midfielders Carl Piecha and Gary Ormston both worked themselves into good positions, but were unable to get shots away. And Turns had to be alert to snatch the ball off Emson's toe when Craig Robson – making his first start in two months – played him in.

Michael Coulthard then produced a timely tackle as last man to stop overlapping left-back Stephen Capper in his tracks as the game ebbed and flowed from end to end, without either side carving out a clear-cut chance..

On 20 minutes the best chance so far fell to Durham full-back Smith when he was allowed a free header from a corner, but he steered it woefully wide.

Piecha then forced a save from Turns at the other end after linking well with Emson, and Chris Scott couldn't keep his follow-up effort from sailing over the bar.

Midway through the half Emson had the best chance yet to break the deadlock when he controlled a left-wing cross on the edge of the box, turned his man, and screwed a right-foot half-volley just wide.

Durham's pacy forwards were troubling Consett, and they introduced another one on 35 minutes when Adam Johnson was forced off, to be replaced by Stephen Richardson, who caused havoc in his last appearance at Belle Vue, with a hat-trick in Durham's 4-2 win last season.

Five minutes before the break, Consett had a good shout for a penalty turned down when Emson took the Durham defence on single-handedly, and looked to be barged off the ball by Richard Smith, only for the referee to award a goal-kick.

Emson, whose pace was causing the visitors' defence plenty of problems of their own, was then fouled right on the edge of the box, earning the same defender a yellow card, but Scott's free-kick hit the wall and David Johnson hit the rebound wide.

On the stroke of half-time Consett had an excellent chance to take the lead when Piecha surged forward from midfield and beat three men, only for former team-mate Turns to stop his shot.

Half time: Consett 0-0 Durham

Consett had ended the first half in the ascendancy, and it took only 13 seconds of the second for them to take the lead. Durham kicked off, and Emson charged down an attempted clearance, used his pace to get clear of the back four, and slotted the ball past the advancing Turns.

Durham came within a whisker of levelling almost immediately, when Tommy English's free-kick struck the base of Curry's left-hand post and bounced out, with the visitors unable to make the follow-up count.

Consett suffered a huge setback when they lost Carl Piecha and David Johnson to injuries within the space of a few minutes. Steven Johnson took over as the lone striker, with Emson dropping into midfield, and Karl Baston slotted in at right-back, with Mark Gaffney moving to the left.

In between the two substitutions Durham grabbed an equaliser, in the most unfortunate of circumstances. Consett had protected their stand-in goalkeeper well, but on 64 minutes Curry fumbled English's corner over the line at his near post.

Consett had lost much of their momentum, but Ormston and Scott both had efforts which failed to trouble Turns in the Durham goal before two incidents which effectively decided the game.

With just four minutes left, a sweeping move cut Durham's defence to ribbons. Ormston's pass set Emson away down the left, and after skinning his man he unselfishly squared for Steven Johnson, who was stretching as he hit his shot, which enabled Durham defender Ian Dixon to clear off the line.

Then, on 89 minutes, with extra-time looking likely, a defensive calamity cost Consett the game. David Scorer misguided a header back to his goalkeeper, leaving Curry in no man's land, and indecision between Scorer and Baston left Stephen Richardson with a straightforward tap-in from a couple of yards out.

It was a cruel blow which Consett scarcely deserved, having matched their higher-ranked opponents all the way, but even the three added minutes weren't sufficient to mount a comeback.

So Durham will face Billingham Synthonia in the Durham Challenge Cup Final, while the Steelmen are left to concentrate on trying to succeed the Citizens as Northern League champions.

Full time: Consett 1-2 Durham

Gary Welford