CONSETT exited the FA Cup in agonising fashion, losing a penalty shoot-out after three and a half hours of football failed to separate them and their opponents from the Unibond 1st Division North. But few of the crowd of 165 would have argued if the Steelmen have progressed by a comfortable margin.

Kenny Lindoe made two changes to the side which had drawn 0-0 at Belle Vue two days earlier. Michael Coulthard made his first start of the season at the back in place of David Johnson, who had gone on holiday, and Jonjo Dickman came in for the injured Adam Emson, with David Pounder pushing up from midfield to play alongside Craig Tate.

Consett started like they meant business, and within two minutes had created their first chance, Pounder shooting wide left-footed from just outside the box after Gary Ormston had pulled the ball back from near the corner flag from David Duke's pass.

The Steelmen started at a high tempo, and although there was a breeze, it was nothing like the wind which had ruined the game two days previously, allowing them to get their passing game going.

When they went ahead after just eight minutes, however, it was in unusual 'route one' fashion, stemming from Daniel Staples' kick downfield. Tate's challenge unsettled the Harrogate centre-backs, and Pounder took advantage to lay a chance on a plate for his strike partner, which he tucked away from 12 yards.

Five minutes later the Rail defence got themselves in all sorts of trouble with another long kick, and the ever-alert Pounder tried his luck from fully 40 yards, only to see it dip just over the bar.

Ormston and Pounder then combined well to give Prof a shooting chance from 18 yards, and although his effort was an easy one for the keeper, Consett looked well on top.

However, a moment's inattention can be fatal against higher-ranked sides, and that's exactly what happened on 16 minutes, when Paul Stansfield capitalised on confusion in the back-line to make it 1-1 from six yards out.

Unshaken, Consett took the game to their hosts, and Tate should have done better when a ball over the top from David Scorer again caught out the home defence. He hit his half-volley firmly, but it was too close to Mann, who tipped it over the bar. From the resulting corner the keeper pulled off an even better save from Ormston's near-post header.

With just 20 minutes gone the home side replaced shaky centre-half Steve Robinson with Will Ryder, but it made little difference, and the chances continued to fall to Consett.

Dickman looked a certain scorer as he dived to meet another delicious Pounder cross from the left, only to see a deflection carry the ball away from him and into the grateful keeper's hands.

Pounder was pulling most of the strings for Consett, with Duke mopping up behind him and Dickman and Ormston supporting well, and another sliderule pass from Pounder on 35 minutes created an excellent opening. It put Tate clear, but he got the ball caught under his feet , allowing a defender to get back. If he had looked to his left, however, Pounder had got up to support him and was unmarked, and would have almost certainly scored. It was a glorious chance gone begging, and one Consett would live to regret.

Steven Huggins hit a free-kick straight at Mann, Tate failed to find Dickman after breaking free down the left, and then squandered a one-on-one with the keeper after being put in by Huggins, so the score remained 1-1 at half-time.

Half time: Harrogate 1-1 Consett

Harrogate made it more of a contest of it in the second half, with their more direct approach a contrast to Consett's patient build-ups, but it took them 15 minutes to register a shot on goal.

Scorer was booked for holding on to centre-forward Ben Jones, whose main tactic seemed to be backing into his man, and substitute Craig Smith hit the free-kick straight at Staples.

Then Jones squirmed free of Carl Piecha and crossed for Nathan James, who looked certain to score until Chris Scott rescued the situation with a tremendous tackle.

The home side were having their best spell of the game, and Staples saved well from Stansfield after Jones caught Coulthard in possession on the edge of his own box.

Consett were offering little by way of a goal threat at this stage, and midway through the half brought on Paul Henderson-Reay for Tate in what was to prove his last game for the club.

Pounder and Duke had efforts from outside the box which went high and wide as Consett went for broek late on, and with two minutes left they were handed a boost when Dan Verity was shown a straight red card for kicking out at Henderson-Reay as they tussled for possession.

There was too little time remaining for Consett to take advantage, however, and the game went into extra-time. Paul Collins came on for the tiring Coulthard, and Consett continued to take the game to the home side.

Full time: Harrogate 1-1 Consett

Henderson-Reay and Pounder scuffed shots from the edge of the box, and Scorer tried a spectacular overhead kick as Consett sought to make the most of the extra man.

Harrogate had obviously settled for penalties, and defended deep, inviting Consett onto them, but as the extra 30 minutes wore on the Steelmen began to run out of ideas.

The last few minutes saw Huggins thunder a free-kick past the post with the keeper beaten, and Mann then saved well from Henderson-Reay before keeping out the forward's point-blank header with his face.

At the death, substitute Chris Douglas forced another great save from Mann, who was head and shoulders his side's man-of-the-match, and referee Anthony Tankard's whistle signalled the lottery of a penalty shoot-out.

Consett kicked first, and Pounder missed, only for Jones to do the same for Harrogate. Huggins scored the second, and Craig Smith did likewise for RA. Scott made it 2-1, and Stansfield levelled. It was inevitable Mann would turn out to be the hero, and that's the way it turned out, as he saved Consett's third kick by Douglas. Dempsey made it 3-2, and although Ormston missed the last kick, he was allowed to re-take it after the keeper encroached. He made no mistake this time, making it 3-3. A successful fifth kick would put Harrogate through, and Ryder made no mistake, winning the tie 4-3 on penalties.

Mann was the rock on which Consett faltered all afternoon, but his behaviour at the conclusion of the shoot-out, when he ran over to his opposite number Staples and bawled in his face, was totally uncalled for.

The home side were left to look forward to a 1st Qualifying Round match at fellow Unibond side North Ferriby United, who knocked Consett out in a replay last season, while the Steelmen were left to reflect on chances that got away. Most observers agreed the better side had lost, but that didn't make this bitter pill any easier to swallow.

Just after the half hour mark, Carl Piecha headed a corner down to Pounder but his scuffed shot was easily gathered by Fryer. Then a swift Consett counter-attack saw Pounder release Chris Scott in the area but he had to stretch to get his shot in, which he scooped just wide.

GARY WELFORD