Tag: kenny lindoe

On this day: 28 November 2009 – Consett’s fine away form continues as they win at Chester-le-Street

Consett continued their impressive away form on this day in 2009 with a deserved win at Chester Moor – but they had to come from behind to take the three Northern League Division One points.

Continue reading “On this day: 28 November 2009 – Consett’s fine away form continues as they win at Chester-le-Street”

On this day: 26 November 2008 – Emmo’s hot streak continues as Consett beat Ashington

Consett increased their lead at the top of the Northern League table to seven points on this day in 2008, with a comfortable win over Ashington in a midweek match at Belle Vue Park.

Continue reading “On this day: 26 November 2008 – Emmo’s hot streak continues as Consett beat Ashington”

On this day: 23 November 2011 – Mackay grabs a 20-minute hat-trick as Consett make cup progress against Northallerton

Michael Mackay’s first-half hat-trick – his second treble of the season – set Consett on the way to a comfortable passage into the 3rd Round of the League Cup on this day in 2011.

But they took their foot off the pedal after cruising into a 4-0 interval lead at Belle Vue Park, and their 2nd Division opponents headed home with some pride restored after refusing to roll over, and making a game of it in the second half.

Manager Kenny Lindoe made one change to the starting XI which had beaten Ramsbottom United 4-2 in the FA Vase four days earlier, with David Brown coming in at left-back in place of injured skipper Carl Piecha, with Anthony Lund again filling in at centre-half.

Northallerton gave early notice that they weren’t going to be a pushover, and their skipper, midfielder Martin Butterworth, had the game’s first chance, hitting a shot from the edge of the box which was a comfortable enough save for Barry Poskett in the Consett goal.

The home side took 10 minutes to create anything worthwhile, and when they did it took a good save from Town keeper Stephen Craggs to prevent them taking the lead.

Harrison Davies, playing wide on the right, played a one-two with Marc Walton and curled a fine shot towards the bottom-left corner, which looked like it might beat Craggs, but the keeper was equal to it, pushing it to safety.

Sadly for Northallerton, their No 1 was at fault a minute later for the opening goal of the game, making a hash of Michael Mackay‘s 25-yarder and having to pick it out of his net as a result.

A long punt forward by Poskett then saw Walton execute a perfect chest pass to Davies, who was marauding down the right. He got almost to the byline before putting in a dangerous cross-shot which was kicked off the line by a defender before anyone in a red shirt could apply the finishing touch.

Consett didn’t have to wait long for goal No 2, which came from a trademark finish by Mackay, pictured top, on 18 minutes. He was sent clear by an excellent pass into the left-hand channel, drew the keeper and slotted home in the style of old to put Consett firmly in control.

Harrison Davies was at the heart of most of Consett’s best attacks. Pic: John Paul Hardy.

Davies was at the heart of most of Consett’s attacking play, and he teed up Jamie Poole with a teasing cross which was headed just wide of the right-hand post, but on 31 minutes Mackay completed his second hat-trick of the season, taking his tally to 25 in all competitions, and again it was down to a goalkeeping error.

A backpass saw Craggs miss his attempted clearance, and Mackay slotted into an empty net. As half-time approached it looked like a case of how many Consett would score, and when Craggs fumbled a Davies corner from the right, Dale Burrell was angry with himself for not getting over his shot from outside the box.

A fourth goal wasn’t long coming, however, and it was Davies who got it a minute before the break, with an excellent first strike for the club. Lund started the move with a ball out from the back, and Davies played a one-two with Walton before beating the keeper with a first-time lob from 25 yards after spotting him out of position.

Half-time: Consett 4 Northallerton Town 0

Consett’s 4-0 lead, coupled with an increasingly strong wind and Northallerton’s determination not to suffer a pasting made it a frustrating second 45 minutes. Ryan Bell’s surges forward from right-back showed he was fully recovered from his recent hamstring problems, and one such foray should have seen him add to his single goal in Consett colours.

Ryan Bell showed no ill-effects after returning from a recent injury. Pic: John Paul Hardy.

Chris Hutchinson – on as a half-time sub for Brown, with Poole reverting to left-back and Davies switching flanks – picked Bell out as he continued one run, but he put his shot over the bar.

To their credit, Northallerton hadn’t given up the game as a lost cause, and it was the introduction of their top scorer Peter Bulmer which led to their best spell of the match.

He pulled a goal back on 66 minutes after Town were allowed the freedom of the penalty area, reacting quickest when a shot came back off the post.

Five minutes later there was another scare when Hutchinson gave the ball away in his own half and let in right-back Stephen Butterworth, whose low, effort was beaten out by Poskett for a corner.

Hutchinson almost made amends on 72 minutes, when, after some good interplay by Mackay and Walton, he skinned his defender and prodded a shot which was heading in, even after Craggs got a foot to it, until left-back Stuart Dunn hooked clear off the line.

Northallerton centre-forward Gary Mitchell shaved the outside of a post and Carl Chillingsworth fired across the face of goal after going for glory, with two colleagues waiting for a pass. But Town’s resistance was finally put to bed in the 86th minute when substitute Gavin Ross added a fifth goal for Consett.

Gavin Ross scored Consett’s fifth goal. pic: John Paul Hardy.

Davies, who’d had a quiet second half, was the creator, dropping deep to pick up the ball, and sending the teenage striker clear with a glorious pass, which he buried with aplomb.

There was still time for Northallerton to give the scoreline a slightly more respectable look in the third minute of added time when Chillingsworth was given time and space to fire past Poskett from 10 yards, but the damage had been done in the first half, and it was Consett who secured an away tie against Norton & Stockton Ancients in the next round.

Consett: 1 Barry Poskett, 2 Ryan Bell (sub Michael Pearson 65), 3 David Brown (sub Chris Hutchinson 46), 4 Dale Burrell, 5 David Scorer, 6 Anthony Lund, 7 Harrison Davies, 8 Craig Robson (capt), 9 Marc Walton (sub Gavin Ross 71), 10 Michael Mackay, 11 Jamie Poole. Subs not used: Peter Jameson (GK), Damian Maw.

Northallerton Town: 1 Craggs, 2 S Butterworth, 3 Dunn, 4 Hickman, 5 Chapman, 6 M Butterworth (capt), 7 Anderson (Bulmer 59), 8 Parkin, 9 Mitchell, 10 Chillingsworth, 11 Clayton (Cook 73). Sub not used: Winter.

On this day: 18 November 2006 – Former Feyenoord man helps Consett get past Garforth in the FA Vase

An impressive performance from Consett saw them make comfortable progress through the FA Vase 2nd Round by seeing off Northern Counties East League Premier Division side Garforth Town on this day 14 years ago.

Continue reading “On this day: 18 November 2006 – Former Feyenoord man helps Consett get past Garforth in the FA Vase”

On this day: 17 November 2007 – Moffat is too hot to handle as Consett blow away Durham in FA Vase thriller

Consett won the battle of the Northern League’s top two on Durham City’s plastic pitch to make FA Vase progress on this day 13 years ago.

Continue reading “On this day: 17 November 2007 – Moffat is too hot to handle as Consett blow away Durham in FA Vase thriller”

On this day: 14 November 2009 – 10-man Consett pull off a fine win at Ashington despite being missing half a team

A Consett side missing five regulars pulled off an excellent win at the home of the Northern League’s third-placed side, despite being reduced to 10 men, on this day in 2009.

As well as long-term absentees David Gordon and David Duke, manager Kenny Lindoe was unable to call on injured skipper Carl Piecha, or the unavailable Chris Scott or Jonjo Dickman for the Northern League 1st Division game at Woodhorn Lane.

He still fielded a strong starting XI, with three changes from the previous game, a 2-2 draw with Morpeth. Goalkeeper Danny Staples had served his suspension for being sent off against Bishop Auckland the previous month, David Scorer was restored at centre-half, and Andrew Burton returned at left-back, though the bench was a little thin.

With just a couple of minutes gone, some excellent interplay down the left by Mattie Moffat and David Pounder saw Prof’s delicious touch wrongfoot a defender and put Steven Johnson through. But Stevie delayed for just long enough for the Colliers to regroup and prevent him getting a shot away.

Consett’s David Pounder in action against Ashington. Pic: John Paul Hardy.

A quick throw-in by Steven Huggins to Pounder gave the Steelmen another opportunity when he found stand-in skipper Gary Ormston, whose ball to Moffat was cracked just over the bar.

After some tentative opening exchanges, it took 15 minutes for either side to seriously trouble the other’s goal, and when it came it was Ashington who came within a whisker of opening the scoring. They broke down the right, and a ball pinged to the back post saw Keith Douglas connect sweetly with the ball at full stretch, only to see his shot cannon off the crossbar, with the goalkeeper beaten.

Moffat tried his luck from 25 yards after winning the ball from the centre-half, but, to the jeers of the vociferous home fans, it flew high and wide.

A Steven Huggins corner caused some mild panic in the Ashington box after keeper Karl Dryden came for it, flapped and missed, but Johnson was unable to take advantage, and the danger was cleared.

Consett striker Steven Johnson had this chance after Ashington keeper Karl Dryden missed a cross. Pic: John Paul Hardy.

Scorer headed over from a corner and Johnson was unable to pick anyone out with a hard, low cross across the face of the goal after Moffat and Ormston combined well, as Consett began to take control.

They really should have scored when they were awarded a free-kick for a foul on Ormston as he surged towards the box. Burton took the kick quickly after spotting Moffat making a run to the back post, but the striker couldn’t keep his shot from six yards down.

On the stroke of half-time Moffat had an even better chance when Ashington only half-cleared a corner, and Pounder lobbed the ball back into the danger area. It was kept alive by Ormston, and Moffat found himself with a free header from six yards out, which he put straight at Dryden.

Half-time: Ashington 0 Consett 0

Within two minutes of the restart Moffat had another chance, latching onto a loose ball and trying to prod it home when power would surely have produced a goal. Moffat put in another good shift, and on another day, with a few more games under his belt, would have had a hat-trick.

Consett striker Mattie Moffat was a constant threat to Ashington. Pic: John Paul Hardy.

Andrew Cuthbertson then placed a shot agonisingly wide of the right-hand post after a flowing Consett move. But when the deadlock was broken on 51 minutes it was Ashington who scored, completely against the run of play.

Former Consett winger David Colvin advanced down the left and sent in a hard, low cross, which was met a few yards out by Andrew Burton. Unfortunately, the pace on the ball was such that he was unable to steer it away from goal, and only succeeded in putting through his own net.

Four minutes later things went from bad to worse for the Steelmen. Centre-back Paul Collins handled a through ball 25 yards out, and the referee decided he had prevented a goalscoring opportunity, and showed him a straight red card, which seemed a little harsh to say the least.

Most of the travelling supporters probably feared the worst, but after a reshuffle which saw Burton go to right-back, Michael Coulthard come into the middle and Pounder drop to left-back, Consett took the game by the scruff of the neck.

Unlucky Consett defender Andrew Burton scored an own goal to put Ashington ahead. Pic: John Paul Hardy.

On 58 minutes captain-for-the-day Gary Ormston capped an industrious display by heading home Huggins’ corner from six yards out, taking him to 10 goals for the season.

And on 67 minutes Steven Huggins put Consett in front with a superb free-kick curled over the wall from just outside the box after the referee had somewhat generously decided that Moffat was impeded.

With something to hold onto, Lindoe withdrew Johnson and brought Gavin Parkin on to shore up the midfield, but it was still the Steelmen who looked more likely to get the next goal.

Another foul on Moffat just outside the box gave Huggins a free-kick in a similar position to the one he scored from, but this time the keeper comfortably caught his effort round the wall, low to his left. And Parkin came close to opening his account for the club with a rising shot from 20 yards which just cleared the bar.

Skipper Gary Ormston just fails to connect with this cross. Pic: John Paul Hardy.

In the 86th minute, the referee could quite easily have made it 10-a-side when Colliers defender Iain Nickalls pulled back Moffat after the forward knocked the ball past him on the halfway line, but he chose to show a yellow card instead of red.

Tremendous last-ditch tackles by Nickalls and Paul Dunn then halted Moffat as through balls twice left him one-on-one with the last defender as Consett looked for a clincher.

Ashington rarely threatened in the second half, though one ball flashed across the face of goal by substitute Josh Race had Staples scrambling, and the keeper then had to be at his best to keep out a powerful injury-time drive from the same player.

Consett keeper Dan Staples comes to collect under pressure. Pic: John Paul Hardy.

The game ended controversially, when Burton needed lengthy treatment and had to be substituted after being knocked out by what appeared to be a flailing elbow, but again the referee only showed Scott Blandford a yellow card when the offence might have merited a different colour.

When the final whistle went it was a fully deserved three points against a side who were just starting to believe they had an outside chance of the championship, and would eventually go on to finish 6th – their best in 29 years.

On This Day: 11 November 2014 – Cup drama at Ryhope as Consett old boy has a night to forget

Consett eased through the 1st Round of the Durham Challenge Cup on this day in 2014, winning 5-2 at Ryhope CW – with the game effectively decided in six dramatic first-half minutes.

Manager Kenny Lindoe made just one change to the side which had drawn with Newcastle Benfield for the Tuesday night game, with Mark Eccles coming in at left-back, and Josh Gray pushing into midfield in place of the injured Jonny Wright.

With Adam Nicholls, Scott Martindale and David Brown also injured and Luke Sullivan and Josie Longstaff unavailable, goalkeeping coach Ben Cole was named among the subs.

Ryhope included two popular ex-Consett players in their starting XI, goalkeeper Barry Poskett and midfielder David Pounder, pictured top, and both were to play prominent roles in an incident-packed first half.

Pounder got the home side off to the perfect start, collecting a cross from the left and smashing a left-footed effort into the top corner from 25 yards after just two minutes.

Within a minute Poskett had spread himself well to save an effort from Aris Guerin-Lokonga, with Michael Mackay’s follow-up effort blocked by a defender.

Aris Guerin-Lokonga equalises for Consett. Pic: Gary Welford.

Calvin Smith then hit a 25-yard free-kick well over the top, before supplying the incisive pass for Aris Guerin-Lokonga to level on 12 minutes, drawing the keeper and firing home.

Ryhope had a couple of half-chances before the incident on 23 minutes which probably changed the entire course of the game.

Guerin-Lokonga latched onto a through ball and his lob looked certain to put Consett ahead until Poskett instinctively threw up his hands as he raced out of his area to meet The keeper handled the ball on the edge of the D, and after consulting his linesman, the referee showed him a straight red card.

Ryhope keeper Barry Poskett was shown a red card for this handball . Pic: Gary Welford.

Player-manager Gary Pearson went in goal, but his first task was to pick the ball out of the net three minutes later as Josh Gray‘s cross from the left squirmed under his body at the near post.

Within a minute it was 3-1 as Consett regained possession from the kick-off and Gray’s cross gave Michael Mackay an easy finish from seven yards.

Then on 29 minutes Smith touched a free-kick shot to Josh Gray, who rifled a shot into the top corner to make it 4-1.

The home side were reeling, and eight minutes before half-time a wonderful Smith pass sent Michael Mackay clear, and the striker finished with aplomb past the stand-in keeper for his 21st goal of the season.

Michael Mackay makes it 5-1 to Consett. Pic: Gary Welford.

Matty Slocombe had a shot blocked, Gray sent another just wide of the far post and, right on half-time, Guerin-Lokonga was denied what looked a clear penalty when he muscled his way past by two defenders and was pulled back, only for the referee to bottle the decision and blow his whistle for half-time.

Half-time: Ryhope CW 1 Consett 5

At 5-1 up, Consett had effectively booked their passage into the 2nd Round and a game at Gateshead, so it was no surprise that they took their foot off the pedal a little.

Chris Youldon was brought on for the second half in place of Ryan Bell, while Ryhope made two changes, bringing on teenage goalkeeper Anthony Rooke for Pearson and midfielder Nathan O’Neill for right-back James Cook.

Chris Youldon runs at the Ryhope defence. Pic: Gary Welford.

Within 10 minutes of the restart they’d made it clear that despite being a man shot, they were going to give it a go, as first left-back Martin Metcalfe and then midfielder Matthew Weirs tested Chris Elliott. The Consett keeper then had to get down smartly at his near post to a free-kick from Weirs.

At the other end, Smith hit the bar with a looping header from an Eccles cross, and then wasn’t too far away with a well-struck effort from 25 yards which flew just over the bar. Ryhope had a good chance to reduce the arrears when Weirs’ left-wing corner was headed down by O’Neill, and Craig Hughes volleyed into the ground and over the bar.

Consett made a couple more changes, bringing on Danny Craggs for Carl Piecha (with Slocombe moving to centre-back) and Chris Moore for Gray, and it seemed to perk up their somewhat flat second-half display.

Matty Slocombe ended the game playing centre-back for Consett. Pic: Gary Welford.

Moore’s pass gave Mackay a chance to complete his hat-trick, though Rooke did well to save at his feet and then benefited from a fortuitous ricochet.

Then Guerin-Lokonga looked odds-on to score after the keeper spilled a left-wing cross, until his shot took a deflection off a defender, hit the post, and was scrambled clear. Rooke did well again to keep out a 25-yard free-kick from Eccles, diving full-length to his right to push it around the post.

To their credit, Ryhope kept taking the game to their higher-ranked opponents, and got their reward with an 89th-minute consolation goal from Metcalfe, who drilled a low shot past Elliott.

The final minute saw Mackay net from a rebound after Rooke couldn’t hold onto Moore’s shot, but the striker was denied by the linesman’s flag, and Consett had to settle for a 5-2 passage into the next round.

Michael Mackay was denied a hat-trick by the linesman’s flag. Pic: Gary Welford.

Ryhope CW: 1 Barry Poskett, 2 James Cook (sub Nathan O’Neill 46), 3 Martin Metcalfe, 4 Paul Braithwaite, 5 Gary Pearson (sub Anthony Rooke 46), 6 Max Stoker, 7 Matthew Weirs, 8 Craig Hughes, 9 Jack Pounder, 10 David Pounder, 11 Alex Marshall.
Subs not used: Chris Trewick, Philip Hall

Consett: 1 Chris Elliott, 2 Ryan Bell (sub Chris Youldon 46), 3 Mark Eccles, 4 Gilberto Chapim, 5 Carl Piecha (sub Danny Craggs 64), 6 Dan Madden, 7 Matty Slocombe, 8 Calvin Smith, 9 Aris Guerin-Lokonga, 10 Michael Mackay, 11 Josh Gray (sub Chris Moore 70). Subs not used: Adam Nicholls, Ben Cole

On This Day: 9 November 2013 – four quickfire goals give Consett victory at Hebburn Town

Four goals in an amazing 15-minute spell either side of half-time gave Consett the points against bottom club Hebburn Town on this day back in 2013.

But manager Kenny Lindoe was just as pleased with the clean sheet his side kept in the Ebac Northern League Division One game at Hebburn Sports Club – it was just their second of the season.

This was their 16th consecutive away game of a lop-sided season as they waited for their new ground Belle View Stadium to be finished.

In a typically attack-minded move, Lindoe made just one change to the starting line-up from the previous game, a 5-3 midweek win at Morpeth, which you can read about here, with Aris Guerin-Lokonga coming in for the injured David Brown.

Aris Guerin-Lokonga battles against the Hebburn defence. Pic: Gary Welford.

He lined up in a three-man attack with Michael Mackay and Luke Sullivan, with Anthony Lund dropping in to left-back. Hebburn, who were still looking for their first league win of the season, included one ex-Steelman, midfielder Daniel Reeves, who’d made three appearances in 2011-12.

Consett started the game as they’d left off against Morpeth four days earlier, and Sullivan had a chance after just two minutes, but volleyed wide of the left-hand post from Mackay’s cross.

But both sides struggled to find any sort of rhythm for the next 20 minutes, and the first-half had reached its midway point by the time the next serious chance arrived.

Sullivan tried his luck with a free-kick from 25 yards, and although Consett claimed a defender in the wall had handled, the referee was unmoved.

Michael Mackay made it 1-0 to Consett with this strike. pic: Gary Welford.

Mackay had the next notable chance on 25 minutes, but fired over from 20 yards – so far over, in fact, that the ball cleared the wall behind the goal and ended up on the main road outside.

However, Michael Mackay showed he had his shooting boots on 10 minutes later when he received the ball on the edge of the box, worked an opportunity for himself, and cracked home a great shot to make it 1-0.

Luke Sullivan scored Consett’s second goal with a header. pic: Gary Welford.

Seven minutes later it was 2-0, and this time it was top scorer Luke Sullivan on target. Consett were awarded a free-kick on the right, and Calvin Smith’s dead ball was met by the head of the No 9, who powered it home from eight yards.

Right on half-time Consett scored again, and it was the best goal of the game. Chris Bell’s corner from the right was cleared only as far as Andrew Cuthbertson on the left edge of the box, and he took a couple of steps forward before curling an exquisite chip just under the bar, beyond the grasp of Hebburn keeper Andy Hunter. Cuppa didn’t score many, but when he did they were top-quality.

Andrew Cuthbertson curls home a superb third goal for Consett. Pic: Gary Welford.

Consett went in at the break 3-0 up, and within five minutes of the restart they had extended their advantage. Michael Pearson’s pass in from the right found Michael Mackay, who prodded the ball home from inside the six-yard box.

It seemed to be a question of how many Consett would now score, but to Hebburn’s credit they kept plugging away, and began to create chances themselves.

Michael Mackay gets his second goal to make it 4-0. Pic: Gary Welford.

Giant striker Channon North had one shot saved by keeper Jack Norton, then blazed the rebound over, and steered another wide with the goal at his mercy.

Consett also had chances to add to their total. Smith struck a 30-yarder just over the bar, and Mackay drilled a shot wide from Chris Bell’s pass. The ex-Hartlepool striker had a great chance to complete his hat-trick when he was set up by Guerin-Lokonga on 72 minutes, but again fired over from 20 yards.

The last chance of the game fell to Hebburn No 9 Kris Goss, with just a couple of minutes remaining, but he hit the bar with a free header after a sloppy piece of marking by the Consett defence.

Consett defender Ryan Bell wins this header. Pic: Gary Welford.

HEBBURN TOWN: 1 Andy Hunter (captain), 2 Matthew Hornsby (sub 15 Scott Wallace 46 mins), 3 Peter Henderson, 4 Daniel Reeves, 5 Alexander Downey, 6 Kris Summers, 7 Marc Costello, 8 Michael Watson (sub 13 Callum Smith 46 mins), 9 Kris Goss, 10 Channon North, 11 Lewis Lynch (sub 16 Paul Gordon 70 mins). Subs not used: 12 Chris Smith, 14 Kevin Morton.

CONSETT: 1 Jack Norton, 2 Michael Pearson, 3 Anthony Lund, 4 Calvin Smith, 5 Carl Piecha (captain) (sub 15 Scott Martindale 79 mins), 6 Ryan Bell, 7 Chris Bell, 8 Andrew Cuthbertson (sub 17 Matty Slocombe 65 mins), 9 Luke Sullivan (sub 12 Ian Davidson 61 mins), 10 Michael Mackay, 11 Aris Guerin-Lokonga. Subs not used: 14 Kieran Martin, 16 Craig Robson.

On This Day: 8 November 2008 – Consett beat Whitley Bay to return to the top of the Northern League

Consett showed both sides of their Jekyll and Hyde character in a game against Whitley Bay in this day back in 2008.

The Steelmen eventually ran out comfortable 4-1 winners against a Seasiders side who would end the season by scuppering Consett’s title hopes – read more about that here – and recording the first of three consecutive FA Vase triumphs.

When this game took place at Belle Vue Park on Saturday 8 November, Consett were 2nd in the skilltrainingltd Northern League Division One, having been knocked off the top after losing at Chester-le-Street the week before. Whitley Bay were 11th.

Even within this 90 minutes, Consett’s following were treated to a bit of everything, as for the first half an hour they were a distant second best to their visitors. However, for the rest of the game the performance was as good as the previous week’s defeat at Chester Moor Park had been poor.

Consett’s Jonjo Dickman threads a pass against Whitley Bay. Pic: John Paul Hardy.

Whitley had by far the better of the opening exchanges, threatening as early as the sixth minute when Paul Chow’s low shot forced Consett keeper Paul Gilmore into a good save. Gilmore saved the Steelmen again four minutes later, coming out save with his feet from Bruce Hogg who was left clean through when Carl Piecha missed an attempted clearance.

Adam Emson had shot wide under pressure in Consett’s only serious attack of the first third of the game, but the Steelmen were soon under pressure again, with David Coulson – who would go on to have a brief spell at the club a few years later – heading a left-wing corner over the bar.

Consett midfielder Andrew Cuthbertson slides in. Pic: John Paul Hardy.

The inevitable breakthrough came for the Bay on 25 minutes. After Chow saw a shot blocked and loop up into the air, Chris Fawcett held off his marker to lay the ball off to Bruce Hogg, who hammered it into roof of the net.

It was almost 2-0 a couple of minutes later when Paul Robinson’s ball over the top released Chow, but Gilmore came out smartly to tackle the ever-dangerous striker.

Completely against the run of play, Consett found themselves level in the 36th minute. David Pounder’s right-wing corner dropped in the six yard box and after a goalmouth scramble Carl Piecha poked the ball home to make it 1-1.

Carl Piecha, on the far left, is about to score to make it 1-1. Pic: John Paul Hardy.

The goal acted like an off switch for Whitley, who were simply never in the game thereafter. Andy Cuthbertson sent in a fine cross which Steven Johnson headed at Bay keeper Terry Burke, and then two minutes before half-time Consett took the lead. Jonjo Dickman won an important challenge in the Bay penalty area and the ball broke kindly to Emson, who fired home from eight yards.

Adam Emson puts Consett in front, despite a defender’s challenge. Pic: John Paul Hardy.

Emson should have added another on the stroke of half time when he skinned Darren Timmons and bore down on goal, but Burke stopped Emmo’s effort with his legs.

Half-time: Consett 2 Whitley Bay 1

Burke was much the busier of the two keepers in the second half but could only watch thankfully as Emson’s glancing header from Pounder’s wicked inswinging corner flashed wide.

The Steelmen had a scare just before the hour mark when a right-wing corner was only half cleared as far as Chris Fawcett, whose volley arrived at an awkward height, forcing Gilmore to somehow fumble the ball round the post.

Consett’s Adam Emson bursts through, but the Whitley Bay keeper came out on top this time. Pic: John Paul Hardy.

Consett spent much of their time soaking up pressure from their visitors and then hitting them with dangerous attacks, and one such situation midway through the second half resulted in Emson and Johnson up against just one defender, however the attack ended with Johnson shooting harmlessly at Burke.

Another lethal Pounder inswinger almost found the net directly, but Burke tipped it over the bar. Two minutes later though, Consett’s third finally arrived as a result of another counter-attack.

Johnson collected the ball then sent an excellent defence-splitting pass through to the unmarked Emson, who took his chance first time and make no mistake.

Consett midfielder Chris Scott runs at the Whitley Bay defence. Pic: John Paul Hardy.

This stirred Bay out of their slumbers and on 77 minutes Chris Moore – who would later play for and manage Consett – embarked on a brilliant run past five defenders, only to see Gilmore cut out his cross. Five minutes later substitute Lee Kerr fired in a shot, but Chow deflected it over the bar from in front of goal.

Consett added their fourth in the last minute of normal time. Whitley threw everyone up for a corner, but Emson’s clearance set Johnson on a quick breakaway, and despite being on his own he beat a defender and let fly with a shot that had enough pace to cross the line despite Burke getting both hands to the ball.

There was still time for Bay’s Fawcett and Consett’s Johnson to be denied in one on ones, but there was no further scoring and the Steelmen stormed back to the top of the Northern League with this impressive win.

Full-time: Consett 4 Whitley Bay 1

Consett: 1 Paul Gilmore, 2 Karl Baston, 3 Michael Coulthard, 4 Jonjo Dickman, 5 Carl Piecha, 6 Craig Robson, 7 Chris Scott (sub David Scorer 84), 8 Andrew Cuthbertson, 9 Adam Emson, 10 Steven Johnson, 11 David Pounder. Subs not used: Paul Curry, James Platten, Carl Heiniger, Mattie Moffat.

Whitley Bay: 1 Terry Burke, 2 Darren Timmons, 3 Chris Reid (sub Leon Ryan 46), 4 Craig McFarlane, 5 David Coulson, 6 Bruce Hogg (sub Lee Kerr 60), 7 Chris Moore, 8 Damon Robson, 9 Chris Fawcett, 10 Paul Chow, 11 Paul Robinson (sub Mark Taylor 48). Subs not used: Phil Bell, Darren Reay.