Consett came from behind to emphatically beat the visiting Bishops and in the process increase their lead at the top of the table to five points.

Not surprisingly Kenny Lindoe stuck with the players that had dumped Durham City out of the FA Vase in the previous game and they should have taken the lead after six minutes when Mark Patterson headed wide from Steve Johnson’s cross when he should have done better.

Johnson just failed to get a touch to Mattie Moffat’s excellent cross after 13 minutes but four minutes later the visitors took a surprise lead. Fairish picked the ball up 25 yards out, advanced towards goal then shot over keeper Craig Turns from the edge of the box.

The Steelmen hit back to level four minutes later when Bishop’s keeper Porter couldn’t hold David Pounder’s swerving 25 yard shot and Johnson rammed home the rebound.

Consett went close to taking the lead when Pounder’s well struck shot forced Porter to save, then Johnson headed against the post from Moffat’s cross. But on 40 minutes the home side took the lead when Pounder slipped the ball through to Moffat who fired past the helpless keeper.

Worse was to follow for Bishops on the stroke of half time. Gamble’s back pass put his keeper in trouble as Johnson closed in, the keeper bringing the striker down. As he was the last man Porter was dismissed and as Bishops didn’t have a sub keeper Newall took over between the sticks. But he could do nothing to keep out Moffat’s penalty kick.

Half Time: Consett 3 Bishop 1

In the second half it was just a matter of how many Consett would score, and they netted twice within a minute early in the second period. Patterson played a great ball into the path of Johnson who shot into the roof of the net. Then a matter of seconds later Johnson set up strike partner Moffat who guided the ball home for his third of the night and Consett’s fifth.

After 71 minutes it was 6-1 when Moffat set up Pounder who shot into the bottom corner from 20 yards. Then a minute later substitute John Clark saw his shot beat the keeper but hit the post, however, Johnson was there to put home the rebound and complete his hat-trick.

The Steelmen completed the rout with five minutes to go when Moffat’s piledriver from 18 yards gave Newall no chance.

Full Time: Consett 8 Bishop 1

JPH