Report

Consett halted a run of four consecutive defeats with a hard-fought point in a 0-0 draw against play-off hopefuls North Ferriby at Belle View Stadium.

Manager Jason Miller was forced into two changes to his starting XI from the midweek defeat to Newton Aycliffe. Liam Colledge came into central defence in place of injured skipper Charlie Exley, with Michael Ledger taking the captain’s armband for the first time.

And Calvin Smith came into midfield for Marc Costello, who will be suspended for five games after his appeal against his sending off at Lincoln United proved unsuccessful.

Despite missing five players in all through injury and suspension, the Steelmen created the better chances in the first half.

Their first came on 12 minutes when Will Constantin had a shot deflected past the far post, and the visitors’ came three minutes later when the ball was given away in a dangerous area but Elliott Walker fired wide.

On 20 minutes Liam Colledge headed wide at the back post after Smith picked him out with a free-kick, and two minutes later the veteran midfielder’s 25-yarder just cleared the bar after a corner was recycled.

As half-time approached, good work by on-loan midfielder Ewan McGowan played in Matty Todd, whose curling effort wasn’t too far away from finding the top corner, and Donny Holdsworth brought a good save from keeper Ben Bottomley as Consett ended the first half strongly.

The second half saw North Ferriby step up their game, and Josh Thacker worked space for a shot, but it was a comfortable save for home keeper Harry Moss.

Their best chance of the game cane in the 68th minute, when Walker had a great long-range effort well saved by Moss, diving low to his left.

Two minutes later the Consett goal seemed to have a charmed life when a huge goalmouth scramble saw the ball twice cleared off the line, and home supporters breathed a huge sigh of relief.

Both teams were pushing for the win as the game entered its closing stages, and with 12 minutes to go Holdsworth was thwarted by Bottomley right at the edge of his area as he latched onto a long ball and tried to lob him.

Two minutes later Todd almost won it for Consett, but a superb intervention by Ferriby skipper Niall Tilsley diverted his goalbound effort just the wrong side of the post.

A draw was probably a fair result as Ferriby extended their unbeaten run to 12 games, and Consett kept their first clean sheet in 11, and, more importantly, put a stop to their recent losing streak.