Consett’s championship hopes suffered a severe blow when they were held to a draw by bottom of the table Red Star.

The Steelmen, looking to bounce back from a defeat against Sunderland Nissan in the previous game, were forced to make four changes from the side that had lost that encounter.

Michael Coulthard and David Scorer dropped out with injuries while David Pounder and Chris Scott were unavailable. Into the line up came Jonjo Dickman, Richard Logan and Steven Johnson while Ian Davison made his first start since rejoining the club.

Consett gave a poor first half display and went behind after only seven minutes. A mix up at the back between Davison and keeper Jack Norton gave Hugill the chance to shoot into the empty net to give the visitors a shock lead.

Despite not playing to the best of their ability Consett did create some half chances. After 12 minutes Johnson scuffed his shot after a Dickman head down and on 23 minutes Logan shot against the outside of the post from the tightest of angles.

Just after the half hour Logan turned and shot from the edge of the box but keeper Josh Moody, who had been on loan to the Steelmen earlier in the season, made a comfortable save.

Just before the interval another defensive error nearly cost the home side another goal. Mark Gaffney played the ball back to Norton whose kick went straight to Seaham’s Robert Huntley who made room for the shot but then proceeded to shoot over the open goal.

Half Time: Consett 0-1 Seaham

Whatever the words were that manager Kenny Lindoe used at half time seemed to have the desired effect and Consett were level only three minutes after the restart, although there was a touch of good fortune about it. Adam Emson made a good run down the left wing and when he drove his cross into the danger area it was diverted past his own keeper by Seaham skipper Poole.

But there was no luck involved in Consett’s second goal which came eight minutes later. Andy Cuthbertson made a run and drove in a cross from the left which Gary Ormston rifled first time past the helpless Moody.

Consett were rampant at this stage and on 64 minutes were given the opportunity to increase their lead when Logan was pulled down in the area by defender Chris Moody. Logan got up to take the spot kick himself but Josh Moody dove full length to his left to push the ball away.

The Steelmen continued to make chances and after 71 minutes Carl Piecha headed wide at the far post from a Dickman free-kick. Three minutes later, this time from a Dickman corner, Piecha had a header from an almost identical position cleared off the line.

Consett should have had the game wrapped up by this stage and with 12 minutes to go another opportunity was wasted. Ormston’s pull back set up Emson who saw his first effort blocked and then from the rebound he shot over.

With ten minutes to go the home side paid the price for the missed chances when the visitors levelled the scores. Poole’s corner from the left was headed down to substitute Winspear whose touch from six yards out took the ball over the defender on the line.

Five minutes later and Red Star almost won the game when Hugill, who had looked dangerous all night, beat the offside but Norton made a good save to push the ball away.

Full Time: Consett 2-2 Seaham

ANDREW PEARSON