A MUCH-improved performance saw Consett leave the home of the FA Vase holders empty-handed but with heads held high after their first opening-day defeat in five years.

Teenage goalkeeper Daniel Staples was the only one of Kenny Lindoe's new signings to begin, with his starting XI featuring eight of the side which ended last season at Hillheads in such heartbreaking style.

Chris Scott lined up in an unfamiliar right-back position in a solid-looking 4-5-1 formation, with wide midfielders David Pounder and Gary Ormston expected to get forward in support. With Adam Emson employed as the lone frontrunner, last season's top scorer Steven Johnson had to settle for a place on the bench, along with three other forwards.

As they had at Benfield a week earlier, Consett created chances right from the off. Home goalkeeper Terry Burke had to be alert to punch David Johnson's left-wing cross off the head of Pounder, and Emson, who troubled the Bay defence all day, then volleyed Pounder's flick-on just over the top from the edge of the box.

A sublime piece of play by Gary Ormston, who pulled a crossfield ball down superbly and fed Emson, gave the tall striker another chance, but Burke was again equal to his first-time 20-yarder, tipping it over for a corner. It wasn't all one-way traffic though. When Staples misjudged a long ball he was grateful to his captain Carl Piecha for clearing the danger as Lee Kerr looked set to score. And pacy winger James Moore was beginning to cause problems down the right, testing every bit of David Johnson's experience. On 20 minutes Consett came the closest yet to opening the scoring, with Emson's swivelling shot pushed out by Burke only as far as Pounder, but he was surrounded by defenders and unable to work an angle for a shot.

Picture JULIAN TYLEY

Piecha twice hacked the ball clear for corners as the game swayed down the other end, and then Emson was left with a one-on-one with Burke, who was always favourite due to the angle and his starting position.

The game was delicately poised, and it looked as if the first goal would be crucial. Consett were playing the more intricate football, but Bay's more direct style was just as effective.

Only a superb tackle from Whitley centre-back Leon Ryan halted Emson in his tracks as he raced onto a through ball from Ormston, and then Moore tried his luck at the other end with a drive which wasn't as close as the home fans in the 495 crowd thought.

The home side should have gone ahead when Kerr's ball sent Paul Chow clear of the napping Consett defence, but the usually-deadly striker stabbed his shot wide.

Emson hit a first-time shot over after good work by Ormston, and then had what he felt was a decent penalty appeal turned down after being sandwiched between two Bay defenders. The referee wasn't interested, however, and the interval arrived with the scores level.

Full time: Whitley 0-0 Consett

Pounder had an effort deflected behind and Emson had two efforts, one going over and the other wide, as Consett again started the half brightly.

Whitley Bay should never be underestimated though, and the goal just after the hour which was to prove the matchwinner started from a Consett corner. Pounder's near-post kick was easily cleared, and Bay broke away down the right. Moore beat Johnson and cut inside, and when his lob came back off the bar, Kerr reacted quickest to put away the rebound.

Picture JULIAN TYLEY

Given the chances they'd had it was a body blow to Consett, but they came back strongly. David Scorer's header from another Pounder corner was cleared off the line, and Piecha couldn't force home the rebound. Then Jonjo Dickman was denied by a last-ditch tackle, and David Johnson couldn't keep his header from the resulting corner down. Emson continued to trouble the Bay defence, and centre-half Chris Reid had to be on his toes to beat Craig Robson to one pullback. Then when Emson picked out Pounder from an almost identical position, he couldn't keep his eight-yard effort down. Bay were still a threat when they went forward, and Piecha survived a penalty shout when the referee agreed that a forward's flick had hit him on the chest, not the arm. And Pounder made amends for giving the ball away in midfield by getting in a crucial challenge as Moore set up Paul Robinson.

As the game entered its closing stages Kenny Lindoe increased his attacking options, bringing on winger Kevin Davison for midfielder Craig Robson, and giving the exhausted Emson some much-needed support up front, introducing Steven Johnson for Andy Cuthbertson.

But although Davison, who has just recovered from swine flu, made some lively runs down the left, he was unable to produce the clear-cut chance which would have given Consett a point, which was the least they deserved.

Indeed, it was Bay who almost snatched what would have been a cruel second goal. Staples had to be alert to beat Philip Bell to Pounder's under-hit backpass, and earned himself a talking-to from the ref for reacting angrily to the Bay sub's late challenge. Then he was relieved to see Kerr's lob bounce just the wrong side of the post as he rushed out to try to beat the forward to Chris Fawcett's pass.

When the whistle went seconds later it was greeted by a roar from the home crowd, who knew their team had been fortunate to edge the win, and the Consett contingent were left to reflect on missed chances.

Full time: Whitley 1-0 Consett

GARY WELFORD