Report

Consett edged through the FA Trophy preliminary round on penalties, but should have had the game wrapped up after an impressive first-half performance.

Manager Jason Miller was without Charlie Exley, Liam Colledge and Lewis Leech, so Will Constantin dropped to centre-back, Calvin Smith came into midfield and Matty Todd played behind the front three.

Consett started brightly and took the lead after just five minutes when skipper Marc Costello volleyed home from Brendon Daniels’ pinpoint free-kick.

They had a big penalty shout dismissed when Isaac Walker’s effort was blocked by Aaron Brown’s outstretched hand, then missed a series of good chances.

Ben Ramsey fired over after cutting in from the right, Costello was thwarted by keeper Alfie Gordon after exchanging passes with Matty Todd, and Eddie Thomas fired wide after being played in by Ramsey, with two teammates screaming for a pass.

Daniels had a shot blocked after a neat backheel by Thomas, and Ramsey’s shot had the sting taken out of it by a defender’s block as the Steelmen poured forward.

Great work by Jordan Patterson down the right set up Isaac walker, who was denied by a great challenge by Harry Gettins then a save by Gordon.

Todd almost caught Gordon off his line with a cheeky lobbed effort, but the keeper got back to claw the ball out for a corner, then Walker curled an effort just wide after good build-up play down the left.

Aaron Brown hit the post as Bishops had a good spell, but their keeper Alfie Gordon saved well from Todd as Consett attacked again.

Five minutes before half-time Todd was hauled down in the box, but Gordon again saved Bishops, stopping Ramsey’s penalty. Then the keeper was well placed to save Todd’s header from Walker’s cross as Consett came again.

Half-time: Consett 1 Bishop Auckland 0

Apart from a brief spell, the first-half had been all Consett, and those misses came back to haunt them in the 50th minute when Bishops’ top scorer Dean Thexton got on the end of an excellent free-kick from ex-pro Nathan Thomas, their new signing from Whitby Town.

Consett’s response was almost immediate, and Daniels was unlucky not to open his goal account for the club with a piledriver from Todd’s knockdown, but Gordon was equal to it. The keeper was then quick off his line to thwart Thomas, and Walker hit a rising effort just over from the resulting corner.

Daniels had a shot blocked, Ramsey tested Gordon down low and the keeper was in the right place again to thwart Donny Holdsworth as Consett pressed hard for a winner, but it ended 1-1 and the game went to penalties.

The tie seemed to swing Bishops’ way when Consett missed their second kick, but two saves by keeper Harry Moss turned the shootout on its head, and Costello scored the decisive penalty to take the home side through.
MATCH REPORT: GARY WELFORD
PICTURES KENNY TAYLOR & KEITH MARLEY