The Consett roller-coaster continued on its merry way as the Steelmen ran out comfortable 4-1 winners at home to a strong Whitley Bay side. Even within this 90 minutes, Consett's following were treated to a bit of everything as for the first half an hour they were a distant second best to their visitors. However for the rest of the game the performance was as good as last week's defeat at Chester-le-Street was poor.

Whitley had by far the better of the opening exchanges, threatening as early as the 6th minute when Paul Chow's low shot forced Consett keeper Paul Gilmore into a good save. Gilmore saved the Steelmen again four minutes later, coming out save with his feet from Hogg who was left clean through when Carl Piecha's missed an attempted clearance.

Adam Emson had shot wide under pressure in Consett's only serious attack of the first third of the game, but the Steelmen were soon under pressure again, with David Coulson heading a left wing corner over the bar.

Carl Piecha, arm raised, celebrates his equaliser

Adam Emson fires Consett ahead

It was almost 2-0 a couple of minutes later when Paul Robinson's ball over the top released the ever-dangerous Chow, but Gilmore came out smartly to tackle the tall striker.

Completely against the run of play however, Consett found themselves level in the 36th minute. David Pounder's right wing corner dropped in the six yard box and after a goalmouth scramble Piecha poked the ball home to make it 1-1.

The goal acted like an off switch for Whitley who were simply never in the game thereafter. Andy Cuthbertson sent in a fine cross which Steven Johnson headed at Bay keeper Terry Burke, and then two minutes before half time Consett took the lead. Jonjo Dickman won an important challenge in the Bay penalty area and the ball broke kindly to Emson who fired home from eight yards.

Half time: Consett 2-1 Whitley

Burke was much the busier of the two keepers in the second half but could only watch thankfully as Emson's glancing header from Pounder's wicked inswinging corner flashed wide.

The Steelmen had a scare just before the hour mark when a right wing corner was only half cleared as far as Fawcett whose volley arrived at an awkward height forcing Gilmore to somehow fumble the ball round the post.

Consett spent much of their time soaking up pressure from their visitors and then hitting them with dangerous attacks, and one such situation midway through the second half resulted in Emson and Johnson up against just one defender, however the attacke ended with Johnson shooting harmlessly at Burke.

Andrew Cuthbertson executes a sliding tackle

Chris Scott on a determined run

This stirred Bay out of their slumbers and on 77 minutes James Moore embarked on a brillinat run past five Consett defenders, only to see Gilmore cut out his cross. Five minutes later substitute Lee Kerr fired in a shot but Chow deflected it over the bar from in front of goal.

Consett added their fourth in the last minute of normal time. Whitley threw everyone up for a corner, however Emson's clearance set Johnson on a quick breakaway, and despite being on his own he beat defender and let fly with a shot that had enough pace to cross the line despite Burke getting both hands to the ball.

There was still time for Bay's Fawcett and Consett's Johnson to be denied in one on ones against thir opposing keepers. However there was no further scoring and Steelmen stormed back to the top of the Northern League with this impressive win.