Report

Consett won a good point at one of their bogey grounds, twice coming from behind to earn a 2-2 draw at Dunston.

They fell behind in the sixth minute when a free-kick by Rory Edwards from just outside the box was deflected past keeper Harry Moss.

But in the 12th minute they were level when Calvin Smith’s pass found Isaac Walker in the box, and a superb touch and turn by the Steelmen’s top scorer saw him bury the ball in the bottom corner.

Three minutes later Walker had another chance after combining well with Donny Holdsworth, but this time home keeper Dan Lowson was equal to his shot.

Midway through the first half Consett though they had taken the lead. Brendon Daniels won possession just outside the Dunston box and slipped the ball inside to Holdsworth. His clever dinked pass sent Walker in on goal, and he finished neatly past Lowson.

His joy was short-lived, however, as the ‘goal’ was ruled out by an offside flag from the linesman on the other side of the pitch, though video footage suggests he was clearly onside.

Consett then had a strong penalty appeal turned down on 34 minutes when Holdsworth was barged over from behind as he waited for a ball to drop.

The visitors were the better side, and had two decent chances in three minutes, with Lewis Leech and Will Constantin both testing Lowson from distance.

Half-time: Dunston 1 Consett 1

There was nothing in the game in the first 20 minutes of the second half, with the sides largely cancelling each other out.

Dunston had their best spell of the game as it entered its last quarter, with ex-Consett forward Wil Shaw creating space for himself but firing well over, and Phil Turnbull’s effort from distance well saved by Moss.

Their efforts were rewarded in the 74th minute when Harvey Neary’s deep cross from the right found David Robinson, who scored with an unstoppable diving header.

Consett’s response to falling behind was again excellent, and on 77 minutes they levelled again. Ben Ramsey picked up possession on the right, ran at his man, and squeezed a shot past Lowson at his near post to make it 2-2.

Dunston pushed strongly for a winner, with Moss denying Jude Swailes at close range, and two minutes into added time Robinson had the ball in the net again, but this time it was the home side’s turn to be frustrated, as it was immediately disallowed for an obvious foul on Moss.

The final chance fell to Dunston in the seventh added minute when sub Dean Briggs was fouled right on the edge of the area, but the ex-Consett man fired his low free-kick straight at Moss.

When the final whistle went seconds later, Jason Miller’s side had picked up a well-deserved point – their fourth away from home this season against top-five opposition.
MATCH REPORT: GARY WELFORD
PICTURES: KENNY TAYLOR & KEITH MARLEY