CONSETT were within nine minutes of making it through a tricky FA Vase tie against high-flying 2nd Division opponents, but will have to do it all over again after their Achilles heel of conceding preventable goals cost them a place in the next round. Manager Kenny Lindoe made three changes to the side which had won at Newton Aycliffe three days earlier. Fit-again Ian Davidson returned at left-back, along with Luke Sullivan up front, and there was a first start of the season for teenage forward Ryan King. Out went Andrew Cuthbertson, Ryan Bell and Harrison Davies. Northallerton included two former Consett players, midfielder Gavin Parkin and striker Adam Emson.

King, deployed on the right of a three-man Consett attack, was responsible for the first real chance of the game, on 13 minutes, when he charged down a clearance from a home defender, and the ball broke for Michael Mackay, who took it wide of the goalkeeper, but scuffed his shot, enabling defender Grant Hickman to get back and clear off the line. From the resulting corner Anthony Lund had a shot, but dragged it wide.

Lund came a lot closer on 19 minutes, when his right-wing corner almost curled straight in to the top corner, but Town keeper Stephen Craggs managed to claw it round the post. The respite didn't last long, and on 23 minutes the Steelmen took the lead. As in the last round against Hebburn Town, it was centre-back David Scorer who got his name on the scoresheet, and once more it was an effort his striking colleagues would have been proud of. He picked the ball up 30 yards out from a short free-kick, took a touch, and unleashed an unstoppable shot which had Craggs grasping at thin air.

Northallerton responded with an off-target header by Emson from James Bowman's cross, and his strike partner Carl Chillingsworth then had the ball in the net, putting away the rebound after Chris Elliott had saved his initial shot, but he had already been ruled offside.

Three minutes from half-time, Consett thought they had doubled their lead, when Calvin Smith fired home from just inside the box, but the referee had already stopped the game so 'Allerton midfielder Ian Smurthwaite could be treated after suffering a head injury in a collision with a team-mate.

Seconds before half-time, King's persistence again won possession, and he fed Mackay, who took a touch to go past a defender, and slammed a shot goalwards, only to see it cannon back off the post with the keeper beaten.

Half time: Northallerton 1-1 Consett

The interval arrived with Consett leading 1-0, and the early part of the second half saw their domination of possession continue. A Carl Piecha pass sent Lund away down the left, and his hard, low cross to the near post saw Mackay prod a shot just wide. Then King had a well-struck effort from the edge of the box saved by Craggs as the visitors looked for a second goal to clinch the game.

Northallerton brought on Wayne Gredziak - so often the scourge of Consett's defence - and the burly striker almost made an instant impact, forcing a save from Elliott from Emson's cross from the left. He then had an impact on Davidson's head, forcing him to retire from the action with a gashed brow after an aerial clash.

The Steelmen's final pass or cross too often went astray or didn't beat the first defender, which, coupled with some resolute Northallerton defending, preventing them from turning their possession into more goals, And, just when it looked as if Consett might edge the result, they conceded an equaliser. Hickman, who'd had a solid game at the back with central defensive partner Craig Winter, rose highest to meet Parkin's left-wing corner, and thumped home a header. It could have been worse, as, right on 90 minutes, Elliott saved again from Emson after Gredziak's set-up.

Full time: Northallerton 1-1 Consett

With the score 1-1 at the end of 90 minutes, the competition rules dictated that another 30 minutes would be played, but neither side had a player capable of fashioning a gilt-edged chance. In the first half of the extra time, Piecha forced a save from Craggs with a low drive, while at the other end Emson put a shot straight at Elliott.

The second period was equally bereft of chances, with Consett sub Harrison Davies firing wide, and Elliott again saving comfortably from Emson. When the final whistle went, it was two tired and disappointed sides who trooped off, knowing they'll need to be more more clinical at Belle Vue on Tuesday.

Extra time: Northallerton 1-1 Consett

GARY WELFORD