Consett picked up their first point of the season tonight in a 0-0 draw with North Shields – but were the width of the woodwork away from making it all three.

Encouraged by Saturday’s battling performance at Cleethorpes Town, the Steelmen hosted last season’s Northern League champions at Belle View Stadium in their first home Northern Premier League game.

A healthy midweek crowd of 429 was treated to a good, hard-fought contest between two well-matched sides – and all that was missing was a goal.

David Robinson had the ball in the net for the visitors on 16 minutes, but the ‘goal’ was correctly ruled out for offside.

On 28 minutes Shields were grateful to keeper Finlay Hodgson for keeping the scoresheet blank as he stood up well to Cyril Giraud’s fiercely-struck drive.

Seven minutes later Hodgson made an even better save from Jake Orrell, tipping his effort onto the bar after the midfielder created space for the shot with a tremendous piece of skill.

North Shields rarely threatened, with their big striker Dan Wilson kept well in check by the home defence, and Consett keeper Ross Coombe didn’t have a serious save to make all night.

Consett had a big shout for a penalty on 72 minutes when a surging run from Matty Slocombe was brought to an abrupt halt by his Shields counterpart Anth Myers.

The referee decided the offence, pictured top, was right on the edge of the box, and awarded a free-kick, which was fired against the foot of the post by Orrell, with the rebound evading the following-in Zak Atkinson.

Dan Marriott had a late chance to be Consett’s hero, but his curling shot from 20 yards a minute after coming on as sub flashed just over the bar.

It ended honours even, but the Steelmen are off the mark, and can take a lot of positives from their performance – probably the best of the season so far.

• Full match report and more pictures to follow.
• Next up for Consett is a rearranged home game against Tadcaster Albion this Saturday, 20 August, KO 3pm.