Consett started their 2010-11 Northern League campaign in dramatic style, scoring twice in the last four minutes to snatch a 2-1 victory over local rivals Tow Law Town. It was a full-blooded contest, played at times in torrential rain, and in front of a healthy opening day crowd of about 180.

The home side included Jordan Hugill in their starting line-up, an eve-of-the-season signing from Seaham Red Star, one of six new faces in the first eleven, with another couple on the bench. Only Dan Staples, Graham Irving, Scott Martindale, Carl Piecha and Andrew Cuthbertson had previously worn the Consett red before.

The Steelmen started brightly and created the first good chance of the match when Piecha fed Danny Craggs in the area and Tow Law keeper Stephen Robinson was forced to save low to his to right.

Four minutes later a poor Robinson goal kick fell straight to Hugill, whose cross found Lewis Teasdale but he volleyed over the bar.

The game then deteriorated with the weather and neither side really made any headway. There were also a few hefty challenges going in and one of those by Graham Wilson on Piecha resulted in the Consett skipper being forced to leave the action just after the half hour mark.

Having just shaded the game for most of the first if was somewhat against the run of play when Consett went behind five minutes before half time through Wilson. The tall midfielder slid in to volley home player-manager Ian Davison's free kick via the post to give Tow Law a half time lead.

Half time: Consett 0-1 Tow Law

With so many players making their full debuts for the Steelmen in this game it was perhaps unsurprising that it was a disjointed display at times by the home side and they almost went two behind within seconds of the restart as Scott teed up Halliday who was denied when Staples made a good save with his feet.

On 53 minutes the ball broke to Thompson on the edge of the Consett area and his attempted curler went just wide of the upright.

Play switched straight up to the other end though, and Cuthbertson lifted a pass into Best inside the Lawyers area and his fierce volley brought a brilliant save from Robinson.

With Consett failing to create anything up front it was Staples who came to the rescue again with a point blank save from Halliday midway through the second half, as Tow Law looked the likelier winners.

Gradually though as Consett's play became more coherent, so the pressure for an equaliser increased and on 81 minutes a swift counter-attack ended with Hugill going on a superb solo run, only to then shoot tamely at the keeper.

Seconds later Craggs' free kick picked out Teasdale whose free header sailed harmlessly over the bar.

On 84 minutes substitute Glen Robson, whose introduction had certainly lifted the home side, broke down the left and as his cross was deflected towards goal Robinson pulled off an unbelievable reaction save to tip the ball over the bar.

Sooner or later the pressure had to result in a goal and with four minutes remaining Jamie Poole's strike from distance looped over Robinson via a slight deflection to level the scores.

Better was to follow two minutes later though when Hugill powered home a header from Craggs' corner to mark an impressive debut with a winning goal.

Hugill might have added a third two minutes into stoppage time when he wriggled clear of his marker and burst into the box to bring another good save from Robinson, however 2-1 was the final score giving Consett a winning start to the season.

Full time: Consett 2-1 Tow Law

JPH