A tired-looking Consett side lost their Bank Holiday Monday derby 4-2 at Dunston today as their third Northern Premier League game in seven days took its toll.

Despite scoring against the run of play to lead twice, the Steelmen were unable to raise their game against their closest geographical rivals after falling behind.

On a day when big centre-back Dan Capewell was keen to do well as he returned to his former club, ironically it was a Consett old boy, Jack Elliott, who the visitors found too hot to handle.

Playing at left wing-back, the one-time Steelman created three of Dunston’s goals, and generally tormented his former club all afternoon.

Consett took the lead in the 14th minute when Kieren Aplin took on his man down the left and hit an absolute cannonball of a shot, which crashed against the bar.

Zak Atkinson was following in, and was first to the loose ball to score with a diving header, pictured below. It was the No 9’s third goal of the season, but his first from open play after two from the penalty spot.

On 31 minutes it was 1-1 when Elliott attacked down the left and crossed low and hard for Sado Djalo to prod the ball home at the front post.

On 38 minutes Consett were back in front, and this time Atkinson turned provider, closing down keeper James Anderson, forcing a mistake, and teeing up Jake Orrell to curl in his third goal of the season from 20 yards. His celebration is pictured below.

It might have been a different game if Consett could have reached half-time with their lead intact, but Dunston’s reply was instant, with another Elliott cross finding former Blyth Spartans man Sado Djalo at the back post to make it 2-2 just a minute later.

Consett were under the cosh for much of the first half, yet led twice, but the second 45 minutes was a different story, as they struggled to create anything of note, and were penned in their own half for long periods.

Jon Shaw struck one effort just wide, Djalo hit another into the side netting, Jake Jensen curled a shot just wide and Michael Fowler hit a rising shot over the bar as the home side turned up the pressure.

Dunston went ahead for the first time in the game on 78 minutes when Elliott again attacked down the left and picked out sub Liam Thear, who’d only been on the pitch four minutes, to make it 3-2.

And the Tynesiders made sure of the three points in the 87th minute, when Consett lost possession deep inside their own half and South Shields loanee Will Jenkins took advantage to make it 4-2.

Consett looked a very tired side at the end, and perhaps this was a game too far after their exertions in the hard-fought draw at Pontefract last Tuesday and the excellent win v Carlton Town on Saturday.

The good news is they’ve now got eight days to recover before their next game, which sees them travel to Shildon in the league on Tuesday 6 September, four days before making a return visit in the FA Trophy.

• Full match report and more pictures HERE.