CONSETT acquitted themselves well but couldn’t manage the goal their performance deserved in this hastily-arranged friendly on the 3G pitch at Gateshead Sports Academy.

It was a good workout against opponents four divisions higher in the non-league pyramid, and much-needed match practice for the Steelmen - some of who hadn’t played for almost two months due to the enforced winter break.

Shaun Sager, Brian Dodsworth, Paul Henderson-Reay and Paul Curry were unavailable, while goalkeeper Danny Staples is ruled out for 10 weeks with the fractured jaw he suffered at Penrith.

This meant Chris Moore, who kept a clean sheet after coming on as sub at Frenchfields, was in goal, and there were two other new signings in the starting XI.

Striker Liam Hubbuck, recently released from Sunderland’s Academy, played the first half of the 40-minutes-each-way game, and old boy John Ewart, who has re-joined the club, lasted the whole match at left-back.

Long-term injury victim David Duke was in the squad, but didn’t get used, as it had been agreed substitutes could be used on a rolling basis.

Consett fell behind to the Blue Square Premier side on 11 minutes, when Jamie Harwood wasn’t picked up from a corner and had time and space to pick his spot with a superb strike from 25 yards.

A minute later it was almost two when the defence was caught flat-footed and former Hamilton and Morton striker Brian Wake went through with only the keeper to beat, but his lob came back off the bar.

Consett gradually got their passing game together, and were just starting to pose a threat when Andrew Burton was forced off after being clattered from behind.

He played no further part in the game, and Chris Scott came on in an unfamiliar right-back role.

With David Scorer (gone travelling) and Paul Collins (working in Dubai) finished for the season, and Michael Coulthard not fully fit yet, it was an injury Kenny Lindoe’s team could have done without, as they are a little short on defensive options.

A great Steven Huggins pass gave Jonjo Dickman, bursting from midfield, the reds’ best sight of goal yet as half-time approached, but when he hesitated the chance was gone.

Gateshead weren’t creating much either, however, and it could have been all-square at the break when Danny Olusoga tested their goalkeeper for the first time with a well-struck shot right on the whistle.

Half time: Gateshead 1-0 Consett

The second half saw Andrew Cuthbertson - who has picked up a three-match ban for his sending-off at Penrith - on for Dickman, and Gavin Parkin replacing Hubbuck, who worked hard and showed some decent touches.

Consett weren’t afraid to take the game to their higher-ranked hosts, and some neat footwork on the edge of the box by Cuthbertson set up Gary Ormston nicely, but his first-time 20-yarder flew just over.

Eleven minutes into the second half Consett fell further behind, however, and it was in the most contentious circumstances.

Skipper Carl Piecha, who had an excellent game at the back, was judged by the linesman to have fouled Gateshead forward Alex Francis when they went shoulder-to-shoulder on the byline, and a penalty was awarded.

Neale McDermott - the son of former Newcastle, Liverpool and England midfielder Terry - sent Moore the wrong way from the spot to put the Tynesiders 2-0 up.

When Francis fluffed a free header a minute or so later, it looked as if the tiring Consett side could be on the wrong end of a hiding.

A superb ball in from the left saw former Bolton Wanderers player James Sinclair guide an excellent header into the top corner to make it 3-0 with 13 minutes to go, and Moore in the Consett goal made a couple of good saves to keep the score respectable.

At the other end, Olusoga’s low shot from outside the box made sure Gateshead’s keeper was still paying attention, and Parkin also tried his luck, but didn’t seriously trouble him.

When the final whistle went Consett could hold their heads up and say they had given Gateshead a decent-enough game, and but for the dubious penalty, which proved to be a turning point, might even have run their hosts a little closer.

Still, it was good to get a game under their belts, and good preparation for the backlog of fixtures which lies round the corner.

Full time: Gateshead 3-0 Consett

GARY WELFORD