CONSETT bowed out of the FA Vase at the same 1st round stage as last season after a home defeat at the hands of resurgent Bedlington Terriers.

Midfield man Steve Huggins was restored to the starting line-up in place of the injured David Johnson, with David Gordon to move back to left-back and new signing Scott Martindale making his debut up front in place of the departed Adam Emson. Carl Piecha returned on the bench, with Gary Ormston captaining the team in his absence.

Bedlington came into the game on the back of a six-game winning run which began after their 1-0 defeat by Consett in the league game on 9 September. They fielded a strong side, including former Newcastle reserve team regulars Stuart Elliott and Paul Talbot.

By the time the game started Belle Vue was feeling the full force of gale-force winds, and the conditions were destined to have a major say in the game.

Consett had the wind behind them in the first half, and David Pounder had the first effort of note on only three minutes. However, his shot from 15 yards was somewhat scuffed, and resulted in an easy save for visiting keeper Paul Newton.

The Terriers were struggling to clear their lines, with goal kicks not even threatening the halfway line, and on 10 minutes debutant Martindale had his first sight of goal. He controlled a difficult ball on his chest, turned his marker and let fly from 20 yards. Newton fumbled his save, but his defence were quick to clear the rebound before a red shirt could pounce for a tap-in.

Martindale continued to impress, holding the ball up well and turning the centre-backs on a number of occasions. It was all Consett, and they almost went ahead in bizarre fashion. Chris Scott struck a fairly harmless effort from all of 35 yards which hit a divot just in front of Newton, and ended up producing a fine reflex save from the keeper. Pounder had Consett's only other noteworthy effort with a rasping 20-yard drive which went just over.

Picture NEIL DOUGLASS

As the half drew to a close Bedlington began to come into the game more, and Anthony Shandran had two good efforts, one after he had run a full 40 yards with the ball at his feet.

Half time: Consett 0-0 Bedlington

While Consett had enjoyed the better of the first half, there was unease among the home fans that the Steelmen had not taken advantage of having the wind behind them, and a much more testing second half was surely in store.

Home keeper Daniel Staples had clearly learnt from his opposite number's struggles, and instead of trying to kick the ball long into the wind, tried to play it short to his defenders.

Picture NEIL DOUGLASS

Despite this, Bedlington started the better, and on 52 minutes opened the scoring when Lee Ludlow finished low from just inside the area after good work from the increasingly menacing Shandran.

There was a let-off for Consett just before the hour when the unmarked Shandran inexplicably missed a headed opportunity from no more than eight yards, and Martindale almost marked his Consett debut with a goal as the action switched to the other end, but his effort from a narrow angle was blocked.

Consett were just beginning to cope with the conditions and gain a foothold in the match when Bedlington effectively killed the game on 72 minutes when Gareth McAlindon scored direct from a corner kick. It was a fantastic delivery, but it was the swirling wind that took it way from Staples.

However, the former Sunderland trainee was back on form a few moments later, saving well from Shandran when he was clean through on goal.

With little more than 10 minutes remaining Consett had a fantastic chance to pull one back, but Huggins shot high and wide after being expertly put through by stand-in skipper Ormston.

With time running out, manager Kenny Lindoe made one last throw of the dice by replacing Andrew Cuthbertson with Piecha. However, instead of taking up his usual position in the heart of the defence he went up front in an attempt to provide some penetration.

But, to the delight of the visiting fans, the game petered out, and ended with the worrying sight of playmaker Pounder hobbling off in the dying minutes.

Full time: Consett 0-2 Bedlington

ANDY BALL