CONSETT headed to the Brewery Field looking to improve on their two 0-0 draws there since Spennymoor rejoined the top flight, but came away on the wrong end of a well-deserved hiding.

On a night when they needed to show their mettle against the big spenders of the Northern league, too many players had off nights, and the Steelmen were sent home with their tails firmly between their legs.

Kenny Lindoe made one change to the side which had played well but come away empty-handed from Whitley Bay three days earlier, Chris Scott dropping to the bench for recent signing David Duke to make his debut at right-back.

Last season's top scorer Steven Johnson also had to be content with a place among the substitutes, with Adam Emson again deployed as the lone forward in a 4-5-1 formation.

And although he struggled manfully, he was all-too-often left isolated, due to lack of support from midfield.

Moors, who seem to have signed half of last season's Durham City's team, started in blistering fashion, with their diminutive trio of Craig Ruddy, Anthony Peacock and Gavin Cogdon causing Consett problems from the off.

Keith Graydon tried his luck from distance as they attacked down the slope, and Jamie Clarke's 20-yarder cleared the bar and the stand behind the goal as they pinned Consett back.

For all the home side's possession it took them 15 minutes to muster a shot on target, and it began with a typical Ruddy surge down the right. He played the ball in to Clarke, whose lay-off was firmly struck goalwards by the lively Peacock, but it was a comfortable enough save for Daniel Staples in the Consett goal.

The visitors didn't take heed, however, and two minutes later they were behind. This time Cogdon played a delightful ball through a hole in the static defence, and Peacock finished well with a first-time shot into the bottom-left corner.

Consett's cause wasn't helped when skipper Carl Piecha had to leave the field with concussion midway through the half. He stumbled while chasing a through ball with Cogdon, and took an accidental kick in the face. He was too groggy to continue, and Paul Collins slotted in at centre-back alongside David Scorer.

As half-time approached Consett began to come more into the game, and they had a glorious chance to level when a foul on Emson just outside the left-hand corner of the box gave them a free-kick. Jonjo Dickman's effort was bound for the top-right corner until 'keeper Andrew Spence clawed it away, but it wouldn't have counted anyway, as the linesman had spotted an infringement.

Consett equalised just before the interval through Gary Ormston, who planted a shot just inside the post to finish off a patient passing move down the right.

The Steelmen had already survived a penalty shout after Moors claimed a handball in the box, and then had one of their own turned down after Emson went down under a challenge from Graydon, but, having never got out of second gear, could be pleased with the 1-1 half-time scoreline.

Half time: Spennymoor 1-1 Consett

Winger Kevin Davison came on for the out-of sorts Craig Robson at half-time, with Duke pushing into midfield, but Consett still struggled to get their football going, and it was no real surprise when Spenny regained their lead on 58 minutes.

The manner of the goal was surprising though, David Johnson getting caught in possession in his own box attempting a spot of ball-juggling on his head, and Cogdon gratefully accepted the gift to lob Staples and make it 2-1.

On 70 minutes it was 3-1, and Consett were again the source of their own undoing, failing to clear their lines, and giving ex-Whitby striker Michael Rae, who'd come on as a sub, the chance to pick his spot in the bottom corner.

Rae almost doubled his tally two minutes later, with Staples doing well to save his diving header from Peacock's cross, and Johnson completing the clearance. Consett were making no headway against a resolute home defence, however, and their frustration showed when Dickman's late tackle sparked an angry reaction from Spenny skipper Gareth Waite. The referee waited for the resulting melee to calm down before booking both players.

Consett threw on a third forward, Paul Henderson-Reay, for midfielder Andy Cuthbertson as the game entered its closing stages, and were almost given hope when the ball broke kindly for Dickman six yards out, but he was denied by full-back Chris Mason's well-timed challenge.

To add insult to injury, the home side scored a fourth goal with two minutes of the 90 remaining, with Rae given time and space to pick his spot from outside the box as the dis-spirited visitors dallied. When the final whistle sounded, it was a well-beaten Consett who trudged off the field, with nothing to show from their first two games.

Full time: Spennymoor 4-1 Consett

GARY WELFORD