A MARK Eccles-inspired comeback wasn’t enough to stop Consett crashing out of the FA Cup as their recent poor record against Bishops continued. The only change from the draw three days earlier was Carl Piecha reverting to centre-back in place of the injured Richard Forster, with Andrew Cuthbertson coming into midfield.

The early exchanges were fairly even, but scrappy, and Consett fell behind to yet another poorly-defended goal on 16 minutes. A right-wing corner by old boy Adam Emson fell to Chris Lawson on the edge of the box, and the unmarked centre-half made no mistake with his low drive, despite the efforts of Eccles to clear off the line.

Consett were struggling to get out of first gear, and on 26 minutes the visitors' lead was doubled, after more slack defending. Bishops attacked down the left, and the ball ended up at the feet of their captain Stephen Salvin, who had time to pick his spot in the corner.

A minute later the game should have been over as a contest when Barry Poskett was adjudged to have brought Emson down as the striker chased a long ball into the Consett area. The keeper appeared to have won the ball, but it was still a relief when the referee only showed him a yellow card, with the away fans behind the goal baying for red. Justice was done when Emson smacked his penalty against the post – the second he has missed against Consett in three games.

The let-off brought the Steelmen, and Eccles in particular, to life. He began dictating play in midfield, and when he was brought down five yards outside the box in the 34th minute, it was no surprise when he lined up the resulting free-kick himself. A trademark strike round the wall and into the bottom corner gave the keeper no chance, and reduced the arrears to 1-2.

Lawson and Wayne Gredziak both went close with headers for the visitors before Consett levelled two minutes before half-time. Again Eccles was involved, releasing Glen Robson with a subtle pass which opened up the Bishops' rearguard, and the ex-Blyth man beat keeper Peter Jeffries at the second attempt.

Eccles went close to giving Consett an unlikely lead from another free-kick in added-on time, and the whistle went with home fans in the 200+ crowd licking their lips at the prospect of completing the job in the second half.

Half time: Consett 2-2 Bishop

But Bishops had other ideas, and made a double substitution at half-time, bringing on Gavin Barton and Joe Grant, as the two sides went toe-to-toe as they sought the vital next goal.

Salvin volleyed over after the home defence failed to deal with a long throw, and Robson just failed to get on the end of a Danny Craggs cross, before Eccles again went close with another free-kick.

Emson and Barton then combined to play in Adam Strong, and the winger beat two men before rolling his shot agonisingly wide of the far post.

It was a good chance, but Consett didn't take heed, and suffered what proved to be the knockout blow on the hour, when Barton – who had surprisingly started on the bench after scoring in the 3-3 draw on Sunday – started and finished a swift break which ended with him volleying home Emson's cross from eight yards.

Jonjo Dickman brought a good save from Jeffries with a 20-yard free-kick after he had been fouled, and then Eccles had an effort deflected over from another free-kick. Sadly, he injured his hamstring in the process, and he received generous applause as he limped off after one of his best games in a Consett shirt. Ben Johnson replaced him, and Sean Best came on for Cuthbertson as Kenny Lindoe made a double change of his own in a bid to claw back the deficit.

Piecha couldn't keep down his shot from a Johnson corner and Craggs hit a free-kick just wide, but Consett lost much of their attacking impetus after Eccles went off, and created little in the last 15 minutes. Even the introduction of Andrew Snaith, making his debut as a late sub for Lewis Teasdale, couldn't spur them on to find an equaliser to take the game into extra time.

When the final whistle sounded it was the healthy contingent of Bishops fans who could look forward to a plum home tie – and a decent payday – against Whitley Bay in the next round.

Full time: Consett 2-3 Bishop

GARY WELFORD