Report

Two-goal Matty Todd was Consett’s man of the moment as they drew their latest pre-season friendly against Shildon 2-2 at a rain-lashed Belle View Stadium .

The Steelmen remain unbeaten after four warm-up games, but had to do it the hard way after falling two goals behind to their visitors, who were runners-up in the Northern League last season.

The Railwaymen had three ex-Consett men in their squad, and it was one of them, Andrei Ardelean, who opened the scoring on 12 minutes, sweeping the ball in from the edge of the box from a right-wing cross.

Charlie Exley had Consett’s best effort of the first half, but his well-struck 25-yarder was tipped over the bar by keeper Sam Taylor, and it remained 1-0 to Shildon at the break.

On 62 minutes the visitors doubled their lead. A right-wing corner saw the ball ricocheting around the six-yard box until it crossed the line, with the final touch appearing to come off a home player for an own goal.

The setback prompted a good reaction from Consett, and in the 69th minute they got themselves back in the game with a well-worked goal.

Matty Todd received the ball out wide and drove at the Shildon defence. He slipped the ball to overlapping right-back Jordan Patterson, who reached the byline before pulling it back into the box for Todd, who had continued his run, to fire home.

Four minutes later it was all square with another well-worked move. The ball was fed out to Will Constantin on the left, and his low, hard delivery across the six-yard box picked out Matty Todd to make it 2-2.

Consett almost grabbed a winner when Todd’s cross saw Eddie Thomas flash a header just wide, but there was no more goals and an entertaining game against a side who will be looking to return to the Northern Premier League finished honours even.