Consett moved to the top of the skilltrainingltd Northern League Division One table with this win over visiting South Shields at a windswept Belle Vue Park.

Manager Kenny Lindoe made only one change to the side that had beaten Seaham 4-0 in midweek, Michael Coulthard replacing John Ewart in defence. Leading scorer Mattie Moffat was still carrying an injury and took a place on the bench.

The gale force winds made good football virtually impossible but the players of both sides did their best to produce an entertaining game.

Consett wasted an early opportunity to take the lead. There were only four minutes on the clock when Chris Scott latched onto Jonjo Dickman’s throughball but his shot was easily saved by Clark.

Goalscoring opportunities were at a premium in the opening half but after 33 minutes Gary Ormston saw his looping header go narrowly wide for the home side.

Just before the interval Consett again wasted a good chance when Steven Johnson played a 1-2 with Ormston which put him in on goal but he too shot directly at the keeper.

Half Time: Consett 0-0 South Shields

There was more action in the second period and despite having the strong wind in their faces Consett soon took the lead. A good build up saw Dickman pull the ball back from the by-line, Ormston helped it onto Johnson whose mis-hit shot managed to go over the line before the keeper could push it out.

After 54 minutes Consett were two goals to the good. David Pounder beat the offside, ran on and then played the ball into the middle for Ormston who, stretching, managed to toe poke the ball home.

South Shields fired a warning that they weren’t out of the game two minutes later when O’Donovan shot just wide from Brocklehurst’s pass.

But a minute later Consett looked to have made the game safe when they extended their lead to three. Half-time substitute Craig Robson robbed a defender before flighting a delightful chip over the stranded keeper’s head and into the net.

The Mariners missed a good opportunity to pull one back after 63 minutes when a long clearance caused a mix up in the Consett defence with the ball falling to Crew but he shot straight at home keeper James Platten.

The visitors’ best player, Ellison, forced Platten to make a save with a 30 yard free-kick. Then on 72 minutes Ellison’s corner was punched by Platten, but the ball was blocked, fell to Wightman but his shot from the narrowest of angles hit the outside of the post.

With 10 minutes left Johnson turned a defender, outpaced another, but shot across the face of goal.

Two minutes later the Mariners reduced the deficit when Carl Piecha was adjudged to have fouled Taylor and Ellison coolly slotted away the spot-kick.

But any thoughts of a late fightback were forgotten when Consett re-instated their three goal lead with six minutes to go. Running onto a throughball Scott shot over the keeper from 20 yards to make it 23 goals in five games for the free-scoring Steelmen.

Full Time: Consett 4-1 South Shields

Andrew Pearson