An impressive performance by Consett as they eased past West Auckland Town by four goals to nil. A combination of Cup games, postponements and a couple of defeats meant that this was actually Consett’s first league win for almost a month. As a consequence the Steelmen had slipped to 12th place in the league at kick-off time so the win was vital to put them back in contention at the top of the table.

With all three defenders that started the first game of the season now injured, Ken Lindoe was forced to venture into the transfer market to bolster the ranks. Consequently David Scorer, a new recruit from South Shields came in for his debut. Also featuring on the bench was another new signing, Carl Heiniger, whose one-man demolition job of the Steelmen in his sole appearance for Dunston Fed last month was enough to persuade the manager to add him to the Consett squad.

Andrew Cuthbertson watches as his shot finds the net

The match got off to a phenomenal start, with Consett particularly quick out of the blocks going two goals up in the first seven minutes. From a fifth minute Steven Brown throw-in, Consett worked the ball across the edge of the box ,and Mattie Moffat teed up Andrew Cuthbertson inside the “D” and he found the bottom corner for his first Consett goal.

Mattie Moffat scores Consett's second

West barely had time to settle when two minutes later Steven Johnson beat offside trap and rounded West keeper Farrell before squaring to Moffat. With the goalie stranded, the tall striker had time to control and pick his spot to make it 2-0.

Consett were threatening to run riot and might have gone three up in the 9th minute when Johnson embarked on a great run, only to see his shot at the end deflected wide for a corner.

West finally woke from their slumbers and created two great opportunities to pull one back before the quarter hour mark was reached. On 12 minutes Brian Stewart crossed for Paul Freary who saw his first shot fumbled by Gilmore, and then failed to get enough power on the rebound allowing Gilmore to grab his second attempt whilst lying on ground. Moments later Stewart himself raced clear, but with the keeper beaten he fired his shot against the post.

Those chances very much bucked the trend towards the West goal though, and were in fact two of only three serious goal chances the visitors created in the whole game. On 24 minutes, Gary Ormston slid a lovely ball through to Cuthbertson whose venoumous strike produced a good stop from Farrell. Two minutes later a cross-field ball from Brown picked out Emson who controlled with his chest before sending a half volley over the bar.

It seemed only a matter of time before the Steelmen scored again, but it didn’t arrive until first half stoppage time, when a right wing corner found its way to Brown, whose 20 yard piledriver soared into the roof of net.

Half time: Consett 3-0 West

West made a bright start to the second half and seven minutes after the restart Stephen Flockett released John Cook on an overlap, but on receiving it back from the substitute he shot straight at Gilmore.

Adam Emson charges forward

On 58 minutes a sweet Consett move saw Moffat make a great turn past a defender, play a one-two with Dickman to leave himself with a clear sight at goal. On this occasion though his effort was too close to Farrell. Two minutes later Brown’s vicious inswinging corner was dropped by the keeper at the near post, but although the ball fell kindly for Johnson he blasted it over the bar.

John Ewart pressurises a West player

The last half hour of the game had something of a pre-season friendly about it. With the game won, and possibly with one eye on Saturday’s FA Cup tie against North Ferriby United, Consett visibly took their foot off the gas and for all their neat approach play, never really looked like adding to their tally.

Two minutes from time a sweeping Consett move saw Ormston feed substitute Chris Douglas who sped towards goal and attempted to chip the keeper, but Farrell made a good one-handed stop. A minute into added time Consett finally added a fourth when Johnson slid a ball through to Moffat who outpaced his marker, rounded the keeper and calmly knocked the ball into the empty net.

Full time: Consett 4-0 West

JPH