FOUR days after seeing their 10-match winning league run ended in a game they dominated, Consett bowed out of the Durham Challenge Cup in a match they could have won three times over. But the curse of the penalty shootout came back to haunt them again after they failed to take just one of a multitude of chances they created against the 2nd Division leaders. Kenny Lindoe stuck with the starting XI which had lost at Dunston, and will have been relieved to see the home side's top scorer Warren Byrne - a prolific Northern League marksman throughout his career - missing through suspension.

The Steelmen started their first-ever visit to Moore Lane brightly, and Gavin Barton's persistence earned their first chance after 10 minutes. He won the ball near the right-hand corner flag and fed Kieran Megran, whose cross was half-cleared as far as Craig Robson, whose shot was deflected for a corner. Danny Craggs took the kick short to Lewis Teasdale, who crossed for his strike partner Barton, who headed wide of the left-hand post.

Three minutes later Teasdale broke down the left and passed into the channel for Barton. He picked out Megran with his cross, but the wing-back headed over when again he probably should have done better.

Midway through the first half Ryan Bell was forced off with a hip injury, to be replaced by Andrew Cuthbertson, who had missed the previous three games through holidays, but the change didn't affect Consett. Another decent chance came and went when a one-two between Craggs and Megran saw Barton head straight at the keeper. Barton headed wide again, Teasdale fired past the post after twisting and turning to create space for himself, and then flashed a shot wide after taking the next chance early, and Craggs headed tamely at the keeper.

Just when it seemed like the home side would hold out to the break with the game scoreless, Barton got the goal his endeavours deserved. Cuthbertson linked with Dickman to put in the No 9, and this time he made no mistake, shooting home through the goalkeeper to make it 1-0.

A minute later it could have been two when the influential Dickman burst into the box, and prodded a shot inches wide. Unfortunately he was clattered by a defender as he shot, and could barely stand as he hobbled off the pitch. Consett saw out what remained of the half with 10 men, and Dale Burrell replaced the unlucky Jonjo for the second half.

Half time: Aycliffe 0-1 Consett

Aycliffe came out a bit more fired up for the second 45, and had their first real chance after 52 minutes when Fred Woodhouse turned and lost his marker, only to see his shot clip the base of the post and spin out. The same player then forced Barry Poskett into his first save of the night with a header from a left-wing cross.

On the hour the home side were handed a foothold back into the game when Poskett inexplicably came to the edge of his box to punch a cross, flattening centre-forward Craig Mickle in the process. Elliott Gardner stepped up to confidently put the resulting penalty away and make it 1-1.

The goal seemed to jolt Consett, who had started the half sluggishly, back into life. Craggs had a shot charged down from a short free-kick routine, and then Aycliffe keeper Scott Pocklington was out quickly to save at his feet after he was played in by the lively Burrell. Consett continued to dominate possession and create half-chances, but Aycliffe defended doggedly, and Lindoe tried a different approach by bringing on Mark Eccles for Barton, who made his frustration obvious. But right at the death Craggs should have scored with the best chance of the game. Teasdale's diagonal ball from the left picked out his run in behind the full-back, but with just the keeper to beat he put his shot the wrong side of the far post.

Full time: Aycliffe 1-1 Consett

Extra time it was, and if Consett had dominated the first 90 minutes, they were almost completely in control of the next 30. A good move down the right saw Megran and Teasdale combine to set up Robson, who couldn't keep his shot down. Then Burrell cut in from the left to test Pocklington with a low drive which the keeper got down well to. Craggs snatched at a couple of chances, failing to get them on target, then the keeper saved well from a Teasdale snapshot, with Craggs putting the rebound wide of the far post.

The midway point was reached with a winner looking merely a matter of time, but the Aycliffe goal seemed to be leading a charmed life if a scramble a minute into the final period is anything to go by, culminating in Carl Piecha's shot being blocked at point-blank range. Craggs had the last chance of the game, feinting twice inside before shooting left-footed, only to see Pocklington save with his legs.

It was down to the lottery of penalties, and anyone who has followed Consett for any length of time knew what would happen next. Aycliffe scored the first, regular penalty-taker Poole put his kick wide, and even though Poskett saved Aycliffe's second from Brian Fairhurst, Burrell's miss with the score at 2-1 handed the home side an advantage which they didn't surrender, with Danny Mellanby netting their last kick to make it 4-2 and pull off the surprise result of the round.

GARY WELFORD