Consett bounced back from a heavy midweek defeat at Whitley Bay with this emphatic victory over Esh Winning. The win lifts The Steelmen off the bottom of the Albany Northern League Division One table.

A win, let alone a big win didn’t look on the cards, however, when Esh took a fifth minute lead. Following a good build up down the right flank Burns’ cross fell nicely to Messer who turned and shot into the bottom corner.

But Consett soon started to make inroads into the shaky Esh defence. After 12 minutes Ian Davison’s free-kick from the edge of the area was punched out by keeper French then two minutes later an unmarked Tony Halliday headed over from Andrew Thompson’s cross. Halliday had another chance but his shot was straight at French then on the half hour Davison’s cross was clawed away by the keeper as it headed goalwards.

Two goals in two minutes turned the game in Consett’s favour. After 32 minutes Scott Wilson’s ball into the box was headed down by Thompson and prodded goalwards by Halliday with Colin McLeod providing the finishing touch from almost on the line. Then almost immediately The Steelmen were in front. Good build up play involving Thompson and Halliday saw the ball played into McLeod with his back to goal. But the in-form striker managed to turn and get his shot away which was only half stopped by French and Lee Suddes came in at the far post to fire in from a couple of yards.

Half Time: Consett 2-1 Esh

The second period started in explosive fashion with each side having a player dismissed. Only three minutes after the restart Consett’s Johnny Brown and Esh’s Howe both saw red. Howe aimed a kick at Brown and the incensed Consett player retaliated which left the referee little option but to send them both for an early bath.

After that distraction Consett soon got back to the job of winning the match and after 53 minutes they made it 3-1. Chris Hodgson made a great run to the by-line, cut the ball back to Suddes who floated a cross to the far post where McLeod stretched his neck muscles to direct a header into the bottom corner.

With the visitors in disarray The Steelmen looked to add to their tally and soon did so through substitute Darren Grimes. Halliday robbed a defender just outside the box and the ball ran kindly to Grimes who placed his shot with precision past the outstretched arm of the diving French and into the net.

As Consett took their foot off the pedal for a spell Esh came more into the match with Gawthorpe and Mawson both forcing Consett keeper Andy Colling into fine saves. But at the other end Hodgson almost added another for the home side when he was one on one with the keeper but the overworked French blocked with his legs.

But he could do nothing as Consett rounded off the scoring with 12 minutes to go. Thompson skipped past a defender on the Consett left and his cross, heading for the on rushing McLeod, was diverted past his own keeper by defender Emmerson.

A great result for The Steelmen made even better by the news that all of the other teams in the bottom six had lost, meaning that only two points separate the bottom six clubs. Consett will be looking to build on this win when they entertain another struggling club, Chester-le-Street, on Saturday.