Consett’s 14 game unbeaten league run came to an abrupt halt against last season’s runners-up. The defeat saw The Steelmen’s lead at the top of the Arngrove Northern League First Division table cut to two points.

Consett made two changes to the side that put eight past Bishop Auckland in midweek. Jonjo Dickman was preferred to Mark Patterson in midfield while John Ewart replaced the unfit Michael Coulthard in the back three.

Consett started brightly and almost took the lead after seven minutes when Craig Robson’s cross found the outstretched leg of Gary Ormston at the far post but the ball struck the post. Two minutes later Mattie Moffat headed just wide from Ormston’s whipped in cross.

David Pounder forced home keeper Collier into a diving save while at the other end Craig Turns was brought into action to save from Banks. After 24 minutes the home side doubled their advantage when Jameson’s shot squirmed under Turns who possibly should have done better.

Consett endeavoured to get back into the game and Pounder’s 30 yard first time volley forced Collier to save. The keeper was beaten, however, on the stroke of half time when Mark Gaffney’s header hit the bar from Pounder’s corner.

Half Time: Billingham Town 2-0 Consett

At half time manager Kenny Lindoe made two changes to the team with Patterson replacing Steven Brown and Paul Curry taking the place of the injured Ewart.

Two minutes later Johnson was set up by Dickman but Collier was out quickly to block the striker’s effort. At the other end Banks got in behind the Consett defence but Turns made a good stop.

With 15 minutes to go the home side killed the game with their third goal when Jameson shot into the top corner from the edge of the box. As the visitors tired, Billingham looked for more goals and Turns did well to turn a Huggins free-kick round the post.

But Town added a fourth on 80 minutes when the ball fell to Jameson who slotted past Turns for his hat-trick. To their credit The Steelmen kept going until the end and they were rewarded with two late goals. With three minutes to go Moffat headed home at the back post from Patterson’s cross, then in stoppage time Johnson lofted the ball over the stranded Collier to give the score a bit of respectability.