A RAMPANT Consett enjoyed a stroll in the sun at the Rowneys Ltd Arena, scoring five against Billingham Town for the second time this season. And in truth they could and should have hit double figures against opponents who they picked apart almost at will.

There was one change to the side which beat Bedlington Terriers in midweek, Chris Scott returning in midfield for the unavailable Steven Huggins. David Johnson is still away, while midweek flu victim David Scorer and back-from-holiday David Duke had to be content with places on the bench. Former Consett forward Mattie Moffat, on crutches as he recovers from a broken ankle, watched the game with his old strike partner Steven Johnson, who has a knee injury.

The Steelmen dominated the game from start to finish, and the opening goal came after just seven minutes. Jonjo Dickman's throw-in from the left released David Pounder, whose first-time cross from the byline was met from close range by Gary Ormston to make it 1-0.

Ormston then fed Pounder on the right, and his wicked ball just evaded Adam Emson in the middle, with former Consett loan keeper Josh Moody grateful to gather at the second attempt.

On 12 minutes, the home side threatened for the first time, Clark putting a half-cleared corner back into the box, and Boynton heading just over the top.

Dickman, who is right on top of his game, burst from midfield, only to hit his shot straight at the goalkeeper, and then Michael Coultard was the unlikely provider of a chance for Ormston, which he just failed to steer in from eight yards.

Emson was again inches away from a wicked cross from David Gordon after a good build-up involving Dickman and Andrew Cuthbertson, and then the ball wouldn't come down for Cutha after Pounder and Gordon linked well to play him in.

Emson broke free down the left, but couldn't quite pick out Pounder, and then Prof scuffed a shot which Emson couldn't quite direct on target as Consett completely controlled the game.

Another goal seemed just a matter of time, with Chris Scott trying his luck from 30 yards and Emson firing just over from Dickman's pull-back.

When the second goal came on 32 minutes, there was an element of luck about it. Billingham centre-half Danny Wray got a boot to Ormston's cross from the right, but the ball fell perfectly for Emson to make no mistake from 10 yards.

It was almost three on 35 minutes when another excellent Gordon cross from the left saw Pounder try his luck in acrobatic style, and when the ball bounced up to Emson his header was tipped over by Moody.

Two minutes later it was 3-0, with defender Paul Collins opening his account for Consett in only his second start. A Pounder cross from the left was headed on by Ormston, and when a defender missed his clearance, Collins beat team-mate Carl Piecha to the loose ball to slam home.

Four minutes before the break it was 4-0. Emson took Pounder's delightful through ball down the left channel in his stride and cut into the box. He beat two defenders and then finished unerringly into the bottom corner.

Emson now smelled a hat-trick,. and was unlucky to see a shot on the turn blocked by a defender. That was Emmo's last contribution to the game, however, as Kenny Lindoe's saw the comfortable lead as a chance to bring on Paul Henderson-Reay for him at half-time.

Full time: Billingham 0-4 Consett

Consett started the second half the same way they had finished the first, on the attack. Collins saw a shot whistle wide from 30 yards, Pounder hit one past the same post, and then hit an effort straight at Moody.

Scott forced Moody into a good save with a 25-yarder, and then Henderson-Reay set up Pounder, who chested the ball past a defender, only to see the keeper touch his drive over.

Henderson-Reay put a couple of headers wide and Dickman forced a good save from the under-siege keeper, but when the inevitable fifth goal finally came it was the best of the game.

Dickman picked the ball up in midfield and surged forward, playing one-twos with first Ormston and then Pounder before slotting the ball past the advancing keeper from 10 yards.

A similar move involving Dickman and Scott was then halted by a desperate foot in from a defender, and Henderson-Reay, who worked hard but is still looking for his first goal, snatched at a chance, hitting it wide.

Scott hit one straight at the keeper cutting in from the left when a pass might have been a better option, then Henderson-Reay saw a chance he made himself with a smart collect and turn on the edge of the box fly well over.

With nine minutes left, and the only question remaining how many Consett would score, young defender Mattie Soulsby came on for his debut, replacing Piecha, with Scott taking the captain's armband.

Billingham almost pulled one back when Peachey hit a good effort from outside the box, but Daniel Staples, who'd had literally nothing to do in the second half, touched it onto the post.

But Town got their reward for not giving up with three minutes left, when centre-forward Michael Emmerson took advantage of some defensive sloppiness to grab a consolation goal and deny Consett their clean sheet.

Much more difficult challenges lie ahead, but a 5-1 away win achieved without both Johnsons, David Duke and Steven Huggins shows Consett aren't too far away from being title challengers again.

Full time: Billingham 1-5 Consett

GARY WELFORD