THEIR best performance of the season so far gave Consett a rare but thoroughly-deserved victory at one of their bogey grounds. It was only their second-ever win at Federation Park, with their only previous one actually their last triumph over Dunston, when Colin McLeod and David Young gave them a 2-0 success back in February 2000.

With Adam Emson and Jonjo Dickman on holiday, manager Kenny Lindoe was forced to make changes to the side which beat Billingham Town 5-0 in the FA Cup a week earlier. Craig Tate came in for his first start since re-joining the club, partnering Steven Johnson up front, and Andrew Cuthbertson returned as part of a five-man midfield in a 3-5-2 formation.

Dunston had former Steelman Steven Brown in midfield, and two more, John Clark and Andrew Bulford, among their substitutes.

Consett imposed themselves on their hosts right from the start, and forced a succession of early corners, with a David Scorer header over the top producing their clearest chance.

On 10 minutes Tate came close to marking his first start since rejoining the club with a goal. He picked the ball up on the left edge of the box and curled a right-footed shot towards the top-right corner, which Dunston keeper Liam Connell palmed over for a corner. Cuthbertson's 20-yarder from the resulting corner was well over.

A delightful move down the left involving Tate and David Pounder then presented Gary Ormston with a chance, but he delayed his shot too long, and the opportunity was gone. Seconds later a long throw looked set to fall nicely for Steven Johnson, but a defender got in front of him in the nick of time to clear. Chris Scott's 25-yarder from the corner that followed fairly whizzed wide of the right-hand post.

The first quarter of an hour was all Consett, but Dunston really should have scored on 18 minutes with their first real attack. Chris Rue got the better of David Johnson and crossed for the unmarked Steven Preen, but he couldn't keep his diving header down.

Four minutes later David Johnson came close to opening the scoring when he stole in at the back post from a corner, only for Connell to turn his header round the post for another flag-kick.

Picture KEN FITZPATRICK

Scott's deep ball into the box from the right then gave Steven Johnson a volleyed chance, but he didn't catch it properly, and struck it straight at the grateful goalkeeper.

Tate and Johnson then combined down the left, and Johnson's pace took him clear of two defenders. He slid his shot past the onrushing Connell, and could only watch as it rolled the wrong side of the post.

Dunston almost took a lead they didn't deserve when they were awarded a free-kick just outside the box two minutes before the interval. Lee Bell took it quickly, but Daniel Staples was alert enough to get across his goal and scramble the ball behind for a corner.

Half time: Dunston 0-0 Consett

Consett began the second half how they had left off, and got the goal their dominance deserved on 47 minutes. David Duke picked the ball up 25 yards out, and the goalkeeper seemed slow to react to his left-footed shot, until it nestled in the bottom right corner.

Picture KEN FITZPATRICK

The goal was nothing less than Consett deserved, and they had the chance to increase their lead almost immediately when a smooth move gave Steven Johnson a chance, but he was unable to get his shot away.

Johnson then charged down a defender's clearance and was unlucky to see the ball go the wrong side of the post, and when Tate hit his shot straight at the keeper after beating a defender to Scorer's long ball out of defence a second goal seemed only a matter of time.

Dunston fired a warning shot, however, when a deep free-kick gave David Potts a free header at the back post. Staples beat the ball out, only for it to fall straight to the No 7 again, but his follow-up went wide.

The home side rang the changes, bringing on Bulford for Pat Collins and Richie Walker for Potts. There was a scare for Consett when Staples raced off his line to clear from Bulford, only for the ball to fall to Rue, whose effort from 40 yards out just cleared the crossbar.

Steven Johnson's pace was continuing to cause Dunston problems, and Bell saw yellow for leaving him in a heap. Then Preen joined him in the book for a foul on David Johnson as the home side began to grow frustrated.

As the game entered its last quarter of an hour, Craig Robson came on for Chris Scott and Kevin Davison for Craig Tate as Consett looked to protect their one-goal advantage.

A free-kick by left-back Terry Galbraith which struck the top of the bar and a shot from Paul Watson which flashed across the face of the goal were as close as Dunston came to finding an equaliser. In the end, Consett were full value for their first three points of the season.

Full time: Dunston 0-1 Consett

GARY WELFORD