A LAST-gasp goal from Jonjo Dickman gave Consett a well-deserved win over a much-improved Bedlington Terriers side in this entertaining game at Belle Vue.

Kenny Lindoe made three changes to the side which had won at Shildon four days earlier, Paul Collins making his first start in place of flu victim David Scorer, Dickman coming in for the unavailable Chris Scott, and David Pounder returning in place of Paul Henderson-Reay, who dropped to the bench.

The early exchanges were end-to-end, with David Gordon hitting a shot straight at Terriers keeper Paul Newton, Dickman having a shot charged down by a defender, and Pounder firing one shot wide and seeing another saved by the goalie’s legs.

At the other end, the Terriers tested goalkeeper Daniel Staples with a series of teasing crosses, Gareth McAlindon struck a 20-yarder just over the bar, and Ormston got in a vital block just as Anthony Shandran was about to pull the trigger following good build-up play by Ben Christensen and Lee Ludlow.

Just before the half-hour Bedlington came close to opening the scoring when Staples was adjudged to have handled the ball inches outside his box as Carl Piecha tried to shepherd the ball back to him under pressure from Shandran.

The keeper was booked, but pulled off a fine save, diving low to his left, to keep out David Southern’s free kick.

Five minutes later Adam Emson came within a whisker of giving the home side the lead. Staples kicked the ball long, and when a defender slipped, the tall striker homed in on goal. As the keeper advanced, he lobbed the ball over him, only to see it drop agonisingly wide of the empty net.

A quick free-kick by Pounder, given for a foul on Dickman wide on the right, set Ormston free, and he pulled back a delightful ball for Gordon, who saw Newton rush off his line to save at his feet.

It wasn’t all one-way traffic though, and Consett were relieved to see Shandran scuff his shot when he found himself in the clear.

Consett finished the half strongly, but despite a well-struck Cuthbertson effort from just outside the box and an Ormston cross which had Gordon stretching at the back post, the interval arrived with the scores level.

Half time: Consett 0-0 Bedlington

Four minutes into the second half Piecha survived a penalty shout, when a cross from Ben Christensen was adjudged to have hit his arm just outside the box. Then Dickman lost possession to McAlindon, who surged into the box, but lifted his shot over the top.

The game continued to swing back and forth, and Dickman seemed to be impeded by Christensen after he was played in by Pounder, but the referee kept his yellow card in his pocket.

Huggins struck a free kick from 22 yards which proved an easy take for Newton, then set Emson away with a lovely ball down the left. He homed in on goal, but after drawing the goalkeeper his shot rolled agonisingly wide of the far post.

Bedlington continued to play their part in an entertaining game, with centre-back Peter Snowden heading wide from a corner, and Staples having to be quick off his line to stop sub Anthony Chapman running on to Steve Bowey’s threaded through ball.

Cuthbertson tried his luck from distance after Newton’s punch clear fell to him outside the box, and Gordon saw a drive saved after good work by Ormston and Pounder.

There was always the danger of a breakaway goal, and it almost came with five minutes left when Michael Coulthard, who’d had an excellent game, got caught in possession by Lee Ludlow.

The forward, who had tried out for Consett pre-season before re-signing for the Terriers, passed it on to Chapman, who fed Shandran. Staples pulled off a good save, and Consett breathed a huge sigh of relief.

With just a minute remaining, Consett got the goal their endeavours deserved. Pounder controlled the ball on the right with a fine piece of skill, and a superb piece of vision saw him miss out Emson in the middle, to pick out Dickman behind him. The midfielder, who was probably man-of-the-match in a fine team performance, took a touch to steady himself before finished confidently beyond Newton to give Consett a 1-0 win.

Full time: Consett 1-0 Bedlington

GARY WELFORD