CONSETT gained swift revenge for their Durham Challenge Cup quarter-final defeat by returning to Bedford Terrace just 32 days later and winning a vital league game.

Manager Kenny Lindoe's starting XI showed six changes to the team so comprehensively outplayed that night, but only one from the last game, with the recently re-signed Lewis Teasdale returning in place of Matthew Slocombe after missing the midweek win at Norton through being cup-tied.

Billingham, who fielded nine of the same starting XI, had the first chance inside the opening minute, though it would have been a fluke if David Onions' speculative cross had gone in. As it was, young keeper Peter Jameson watched it well, and tipped it over the bar.

Dale Burrell delivers a free kick

Consett responded with a good run down the left by Dale Burrell, whose cross found Michael Mackay with his back to goal. He managed to turn and get a shot away, but it was a comfortable save for Town keeper James Briggs.

Ryan Bell heads at goal

Jameson then saved with his feet from Jamie Owens as the game swayed from end to end, with Consett kicking into an increasingly gusty wind and driving rain. They did still manage to create chances though: Mackay turned and shot wide from Harrison Davies' pass down the left, and Ryan Bell headed straight at Briggs from a Davies cross after he had been released by a raking Teasdale crossfield ball.

Teasdale had a shot deflected behind for a corner and Mackay was unlucky when he anticipated centre-half Richard Gaston's header back to his keeper, and nipped in to prod the ball goalwards, but Briggs came to his team-mate's rescue.

As half-time approached, Town had their best spell so far. Jameson was called into action twice in a minute, first to save full-back James Hackett's well-struck 30-yarder, then to touch Alan Cossavella's dipping volley over after a corner was only half-cleared.

Half time: Billingham 0-0 Consett

Half-time arrived with the scores blank, but the home side had a glorious chance within two minutes of the restart, when Glen Butterworth looked a certain scorer after Onions laid off Micky Dunwell's cross, only to put his shot wide. Christian Selby then had an effort from the edge of the box, but hit it straight at Jameson.

Billingham were made to pay for their profligacy on 58 minutes, when Teasdale grabbed what turned out to be the only goal of the game, and his first since his return from Newcastle Benfield. He dispossessed Chris Dunwell on the edge of this box before finishing confidently past Briggs.

Three minutes later the scores would have been level had it not been for an excellent double save by Jameson. Onions brought a fine stop from him with a 25-yarder, but the teenage keeper did even better to get up and save Owens' follow-up.

This seemed to inspire Consett to up their game, and Bell, playing in an unaccustomed midfield role, twice went close. He saw one shot clear the bar after good approach work by Teasdale and Mackay, and another flash past the angle of post and crossbar after trying a half-volley on the bounce from a Michael Pearson throw-in.

Harrison Davies plays a through ball

Burrell then beat three men down the right and delivered a cross which was a touch too high for Mackay to direct his header properly at goal.

Carl Piecha clears the danger

A second goal would have killed the game, and Consett's front two were both unlucky not to get it. Mackay had a shot pushed round the post after Davies and Bell played him in, and the No10 then turned provider, crossing for Teasdale, whose header smacked against the underside of the bar.

Billingham were still dangerous on the break, and an effort by Micky Dunwell looked like the equaliser until Jameson again saved well. The young keeper then pulled off an even better stop four minutes from time, saving Cossavella's effort one-handed from six yards before springing up to claim the loose ball. The save proved just as much a match-winner as Teasdale's goal, and Consett held on to pick up three valuable points.

Full time: Billingham 0-1 Consett

GARY WELFORD