City rise to the Challenge to make cup final.

Byline: By JEFF BOWRON

DURHAM City will play Northern Leaguers Billingham Synthonia in the Durham Challenge Cup final after they edged past Consett last night.

The clash of the two league leaders - Durham in the UniBond First Division North and Northern League Consett - proved to be a damp squib.

City, though, at least ended a winless run of five games when they were gifted an 88th-minute winner by the Steelmen.

The last thing Durham wanted was extra-time or a replay with a hectic final six weeks of the season to come.

Manager Lee Collings said: "The Durham Challenge Cup and the league were two competitions we believed we could win.

"We have the chance to do just that.

"It's always good to play in a cup final and have a chance to bring silverware to the club - but we have a lot of important league games before then."

Collings may not have been satisfied with the performance at Belle Vue in a low key semifinal, but he was relieved to see his side return to winning ways.

The first half was a drab and uneventful affair, but the game sprang to life in the opening minute of the second when Consett broke the deadlock. Durham's returning central defender Richard Smith's clearance rebounded to Adam Emson, who slipped the ball past a hesitant Craig Turns.

Tommy English immediately hit the inside of the post with a free-kick which then fell for Gavin Cogdon, who fired over.

City equalised on the hour when stand-in Consett goalkeeper Paul Curry, normally a defender, fumbled an English corner into his own net. Consett should have regained the lead five minutes from time when Emson set up sub Stephen Johnson, but his shot lacked power.

Instead, Durham who booked their place in the final with a goal befitting a scrappy encounter.

David Scorer's attempted headed backpass went past advancing goalkeeper Curry to give Steven Richardson the simplest of winners.