A tremendous result for Consett as they went to the home of league leaders Durham City, who had previously dropped only two points all season, and came away with a mightily impressive 3-0 win. The clean sheet also means that Consett have now gone 664 minutes of league football without conceding a goal.

Consett, who were unchanged from the side that had won 2-0 at Northallerton three days earlier, started as they had done in that game with a goal in their first meaningful attack. With seven minutes on teh clock David Pounder delivered a superb cross from the right flank that just evaded the head of Steven Johnson but was met perfectly by in the inrushing Mattie Moffat who slid in to score with a near post strike.

Mattie Moffat slides in to make it 1-0

Craig Robson leaves the opposition trailing

The visitors took the sting out of the game for the rest of the first half keeping Durham's attacks to a minimum, however their best chance came on the half hour mark when Richard Smith headed a right wing corner towards goal which Mark Gaffney headed off the line. The danger was only half cleared and Steven Richardson headed another effort on goal, which on this occasion Craig Turns saved after a momentary juggle!

Moffat had a gilt-edged opportunity to extend Consett's lead four minutes later, when after a City defender lost the flight of a through ball, he found himself alone in the penalty area with just the keeper to beat. However his attempted flick over former Consett stopper John Mohan's head was weak and the keeper saved easily.

With the game apparently in the balance at the interval, Consett put the issue beyond doubt with two goals in the opening five minutes of the half. On 48 minutes a long clearance was headed on by Moffat and Mark Patterson despatched a thunderbolt volley over Mohan and into the Durham net.

Before Durham could react the Steelmen added a third two minutes later, and again Moffat, who had been driven to the game from Scunthorpe by sponsors Hargreaves, was instrumental in the move. The tall striker broke down the right flank and delivered a pinpoint cross perfectly into the path of Steven Johnson who drilled the ball home from 8 yards.

David Pounder sends a cross into the area

Mark Patterson takes control

Consett totally dominated the second half and apart from a Smith header from a Harison corner that was too high to trouble Turns, the only issue was whether the Steelmen could add to their tally. Just after the hour mark Moffat controlled on his chest before volleying just wide and then moment later a brilliant "Cruyff" turn from Steven Johnson opened up the City defence and Mohan was forced to punch away his shot across goal.

Some of Consett's play was quite superb with the flat and even artificial surface at Durham's Archibalds Stadium suiting them to a T. This was typified by the delightful move midway through the second half when David Johnson's cross picked out Gary Ormston, who touched the ball back to Jonjo Dickman and his waist high volley went just over the bar.