What a difference a week makes! Seven days after a shambles of a Consett side lost at home to relegation threatened Northallerton Town, a resurgent Belle Vue outfit demolished Washington, also battling against the drop, despite the absence of top scorer Mattie Moffat.

With one eye on the game against Durham in the coming week, Ken Lindoe resisted the temptation to rush players back and made just one enforced change with David Pounder replacing the injured Moffat.

Consett wasted no time in getting started, taking the lead in the fourth minute. Steven Johnson outpaced Washington’s Mobberley who felled the Consett striker with a clumsy challenge. Johnson himself took the penalty, finding the net despite a somewhat scuffed spot kick.

Steven Johnson is fouled for Consett's first penalty

David Pounder fires in for Consett's second

Consett were threatening to score with every attack as an inexperienced Washington backline struggled to cope. The busy Wilson was forced into two saves in a minute, first from David Colvin’s volley and then from Steven Johnson’s strike on the run.

Inevitably Consett added a third with Johnson doubling his personal tally, beating the offside trap to collect John Ewart’s diagonal ball and beating Wilson with a mis-kicked strike.

Seven minutes before the break Consett went nap with Johnson completing his fourth hat trick of the season. Pounder attempted the chip the ball over Martyn Quinn, who handled to concede the second penalty of the game. Johnson’s unconvincing spot kick was saved by Wilson but he first to the rebound to grab his 31st goal of the season.

Not too many players have scored thirty goals in a season for Consett in the recent past and it’s somewhat unfortunate that Johnson’s exploits have been overshadowed to some extent by the exploits of his strike partner Moffat.

David Colvin strikes at goal

Andrew Thompson races Brooking to the ball

The home side created their first chance of the game on 52 minutes when James Platten came out to save bravely at the feet Robert Ruddick, taking a kick to the head for his troubles. Platten saved again just after the hour stopping Dean Critchlow’s drive.

On 63 minutes Steven Johnson headed Brown’s free kick over the bar at the near post, but ten minutes later Consett added their sixth. Substitute Clark was released by Carl Piecha’s clever flick and although the chance appeared to have gone when a defender closed him down, the winger regained possession, cut inside the area and drilled a low shot home.

Within a minute Colvin was denied by a last-ditch tackle by Brooking, easily the most impressive of Washington beleaguered rearguard. Then as the game entered its closing stages Patterson picked out Clark on the right edge of the area, but his ambitious volley was no danger to Wilson.