Five goals in 20 second half minutes saw Consett come from behind to claim what proved to be a comfortable victory over the Terriers. The Welfare Ground is certainly one of Consett’s favourite places to play as on their last four visits (three against Bedlington and one versus Ashington) they have notched a total of 22 goals.

Manager Kenny Lindoe made two changes to the side that had beaten Newton Aycliffe in midweek. In defence, David Scorer replaced the injured Mark Gaffney, while Mattie Moffat returned to the attack in place of Carl Heiniger.

The Steelmen had the strong wind at their backs in an opening half that they had the better of. On the quarter hour Gary Ormston’s looping header was tipped over by the home keeper following a cross from the left by David Pounder.

Pounder then saw his whipped in corner also tipped over the bar by Matthewson. Recent signing Chris Scott put over a cross from the right that Steven Johnson headed narrowly wide.

Consett went close to breaking the deadlock after 37 minutes. Pounder’s corner to the far post was headed back across goal by Moffat for Carl Piecha whose header struck the bar and then was pushed over by Matthewson.

Little had been seen of the home side as an attacking force but four minutes before the interval Phillipson’s long range shot forced James Platten to tip over.

A minute later though and Terriers took the lead. Karl Baston’s attempt to play the ball back to Platten fell to home striker Dodsworth who rounded the stranded keeper to net.

Half time: Bedlington 1-0 Consett

Consett levelled six minutes after the restart. Johnson’s pass found Pounder on the left whose driven cross was only partially blocked, falling kindly to Moffat who tapped the ball home.

Moffat then left the field with injury and was replaced by Adam Emson who was to make an almost immediate impact on the game. But not before Bedlington had a chance to retake the lead when Ludlow broke through the Consett defence but he shot over.

The home side paid for that miss almost immediately as the Steelmen took the lead after 54 minutes, Pounder’s superb cross from the left being bravely headed home by Emson.

Emson was also instrumental in Consett’s third goal four minutes later. Following Pounder’s corner a scramble in the box saw the ball fall to Emson with his back to goal. The tall striker tried to set up an over head kick for himself as he flicked the ball up, but as he was about to shoot Terriers defender Milne, in trying to clear, only succeeded in heading into the bottom corner of his own net.

Consett looked good for the points at this stage but Bedlington hit back to reduce the deficit. Ludlow beat the offside and flicked the ball past Platten who had slipped as he came out of his goal to narrow the angle.

But the Steelmen restored their two goal advantage within a minute when Gary Ormston’s looping header found the net following Jonjo Dickman’s free-kick.

Consett went nap for the third successive game after 71 minutes. Scott played a great ball to Emson who pulled the ball back from the by-line to Dickman who shot into the bottom corner from 18 yards.

There was no way back for the home side now and Consett had further chances to score in the closing stages. Johnson saw a shot turned for a corner, and then had another effort saved. In stoppage time substitute Craig Robson saw the keeper pull off a good save to keep out his header.

Full time: Bedlington 2-5 Consett

Andrew Pearson