AFTER a seven-week weather-enforced break since their last game, Consett picked up where they left off with a hard-fought win at West Allotment.

There were three changes to the starting XI from the previous game - the 2-0 win over Shildon in a monsoon on 20 November. Out went flu victim Craig Robson, the injured Mark Eccles and Gavin Ross. Into midfield came Andrew Cuthbertson, who missed only four games while his broken wrist healed, Jonjo Dickman, for his first start since the Durham Challenge Cup game at Newton Aycliffe in October, and Anthony Lund came in at left-back. Jamie Poole was left on the left side of midfield, and Scott Martindale reprised the centre-forward role which he played when he first came to the club, with Danny Craggs pushed up alongside him.

In the opposition ranks, there wasn't even a place on the bench for goalkeeper Danny Staples, who is on the transfer list.

The home side had the advantage of being less rusty than Consett, having played Whitley Bay on 30 December and Ashington on 3 January, and it was no surprise that the Steelmen took a while to get going.

Little of note happened in the first 15 minutes, other than lengthy stoppages while skipper Carl Piecha had a shoulder injury tended to, and Martindale received treatment for a hefty whack on the ankle.

Consett had the ball in the net on 20 minutes in the first meaningful action of the game, but Poole's header from Lund's right-wing cross was ruled out for climbing on the defender, and even Pooler didn't complain, so it must have been a foul.

Dale Burrell, who looked the visitors' liveliest player in the first half, scuffed a shot well wide from a Craggs free-kick and then showed good improvisation with a hooked effort from a Martindale flick-on, but it didn't trouble the keeper.

On 27 minutes Cuthbertson at last forced a save out of Chris Bannon in the home goal, and though his well-struck 30-yarder reared up at the keeper, no one had followed in.

Allotment had their first chance on 33 minutes, when they were awarded a free-kick 22 yards out, but left-back James Novak put it straight at Barry Poskett.

Two minutes later the visitors had another decent chance when a cross from the left by Poole picked out Martindale, and though he rose higher than his marker, his header was comfortable enough for Bannon, and the ex-Hibs man is still looking for his first Consett goal.

Celtic's David Malloy then went close, cutting in from the right and hitting a shot which flashed narrowly over, and Burrell sent a speculative cross-shot just beyond the far post after switching wings, with men waiting for a cross in the middle.

The game was warming up as half-time approached, and Poskett had to beat out a firmly-struck shot from Stephen Buzzeo, before Burrell wasted another chance at the other end, slashing a shot high and wide after a good break which swept from left to right.

Just when it looked the interval would arrive goalless, Celtic's top scorer Marc Walton broke the deadlock two minutes into stoppage time after being played in by substitute Andrew Dugdale.

Half time: Allotment 1-0 Consett

Consett suffered a setback when Piecha failed to emerge for the second half, and then keeper Poskett limped off six minutes later, with ex-Middlesbrough Academy keeper Peter Jameson making his debut between the sticks.

He was in the action straight away, standing up well when Malloy burst through the middle, and refusing to let him get a shot away, and then beating the dangerous Walton to a through ball.

Incredibly, Consett turned the game on its head with three goals in the space of nine minutes.

First, on 62 minutes, Poole volleyed home an equaliser from the edge of the area in the after Burrell's cross for Martindale was only half-cleared.

Two minutes later, after some good work down the left by half-time sub Ross, a one-two with Poole put Lund in on goal. The keeper saved his initial attempt, but the ball broke kindly for him to give Craggs a simple tap-in.

On 72 minutes Consett took control with a third goal. A Martindale ball across the box resulted in a goalmouth scramble, and Burrell swept home the loose ball.

There was still left in the home side though, and they came back strongly at the league leaders. Craggs was relieved to see Malloy fire over after giving the ball away outside his own box, and another defensive mistake saw Walton hit the post.

Gavin Barton, on for the tiring Cuthbertson, had the ball in the net as the game entered its last 10 minutes, but was ruled offside, and when another goal came it was the home side who scored it.

Walton, who had been dangerous all afternoon, picked the ball up 25 yards and hit an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net from 25 yards to make it 3-2, with six minutes remaining.

Deep into added time he was denied a hat-trick, and Celtic a point they just about deserved, by Jameson's brilliant one-handed save from the former Newcastle reserve's free-kick.

When the final whistle went it was a jubilant but exhausted Consett side which celebrated a win which kept them eight points in front, with nearest rivals Spennymoor and Benfield both winning.

Full time: Allotment 3-2 Consett

GARY WELFORD