Consett progressed to the Preliminary Round of this season's FA Cup, coming from behind to beat Pontefract Collieries 5-1 at Belle Vue. The win sets up a meeting with Bishop Auckland, who beat Darlington Railway Athletic 3-2 in their Sunday tie.

The game started very slowly with very few chances in the opening half an hour. In the fourth minute, Adam Emson followed upon his own blocked cross to fire in a shot which was saved at near post. Emson then saw a shot tipped over the bar eight minutes later, but on the whole it was a very sterile opening third.

The Steelmen paid the price for their sluggish start when the visitors took a shock lead after 33 minutes. Craig Rouse fired in a free kick that took a deflection off the wall forcing Gilmore into a brilliant one-handed save. However Gareth Burton was reacted quickest and followed up to score.

Paul Gilmore pulls off a brilliant save, but Burton scores from the rebound

The goal provoked Consett into action and two minutes later a quick free kick set up Steven Brown who sent a chip shot over the bar. Then on 37 minutes, Jonjo Dickman delivered a superb cross from near the corner flag which Steven Johnson scooped just wide.

Gary Ormston equalises

With the pressure increasing by the minute, Mattie Moffat set up Brown whose venomous strike was parried by the keeper. Consett finally made the breakthrough to level three minutes before half time. Andrew Cuthbertson clipped a dangerous cross to the edge of the 6-yard box, and Gary Ormston beat Dickman to the ball to force it home.

On the stroke of half time a goalmouth scramble ended up at Johnson’s feet but he shot at the keeper and the tie remained level at the interval.

Half time: Consett 1-1 Pontefract

The second half was dominated totally by Consett with as they laid siege to the Pontefract goal. Two minutes after the break, Brown sent a wickedly inswinging free kick towards goal that Burton cleared off the line. Then the influential Brown saw another free kick palmed away by Colliery keeper Anthony Heywood and Gary Ormston headed the rebound straight back at him.

Consett took the lead in the 54th minute when Emson delievered a superb cross to Moffat at the back post and the tall striker kept up his record of scoring in every game so far this season, bundling the ball in at the second attempt.

Moffat and then Emson saw shots blocked in rapid succession before Brown fired a 20 yard strike wide. Then on 65 minutes Brown played a 1-2 with Ormston then played the ball inside to Johnson who seemed sure to score, but he was unable to make sufficient contact from three yards to convert the chance.

For all Consett’s dominance it was a concern that they still led by just the one goal, so the home supporters were able to breathe a lot easier when they scored twice in five minutes to kill the tie. On 74 minutes, man-of-the-match Brown played a short corner then sent in a cross which found Karl Baston unmarked at the back post, and the new signing controlled before drilling home from 6 yards.

Moffat has a shot blocked

Consett’s fourth was a far more simple affair, with Michael Coulthard playing a long through ball from inside his own half, and when a defender slipped to leave Moffat with just the keeper to beat there was only ever going to be one result.

Jonjo Dickman looks for a team-mate

Moffat went in search of his second hat trick in a week, embarking on a fantastic run in the closing stages, but which ended with a disappointing shot well wide.

In stoppage time Brown saw another free kick cause havoc as his low strike almost went through the keeper. However he wasn’t to be denied a minute later when he jabbed a loose ball home from 12 yards to put the icing on the cake.

Full time: Consett 5-1 Pontefract

JPH