CONSETT recorded an excellent victory against second-placed Bedlington, and the scoreline could have been much more comprehensive if they hadn’t hit the woodwork FOUR times in the second half. But the clean sheet – the first of the season - will have pleased Kenny Lindoe as much as the three points.

The manager made two changes to the side which beat Esh Winning in midweek, with Gavin Barton, a new signing from Bishop Auckland, coming in for Lewis Teasdale up front, and Anthony Lund replacing Richard Forster.

The early exchanges were extremely cagey, but gradually Consett began to take control. Jonjo Dickman hit a 25-yard free-kick straight at Terriers’ keeper Paul Newton, and Jamie Poole hit one rising shot over the bar, and another just wide.

Consett were coping well with the visiting strikeforce, who were the most potent in the league this season, but the lively Anthony Shandran wriggled his way free to hit a shot on the turn that drifted wide.

Some good work by Jonny Hewitson down the right saw Gavin Ross, whose pace kept the visiting defence on their toes all afternoon, keep the ball alive for Anthony Lund, but he scuffed his shot wide.

Ten-goal Alex Benjamin, the league’s top scorer, was kept quiet, but showed he still posed a threat by finding a yard of space to thump a shot on the turn that Barry Poskett did well to held.

Lund again went close after being played in by Ross, but shot over under pressure from a defender, while Poole watched a well-struck effort flash past the post as Consett approached the interval the stronger.

But Bedlington had an excellent chance to take an undeserved lead when Stuart Elliott’s free kick from 25 yards needed a touch from Poskett to tip it onto the bar.

Half time: Consett 0-0 Bedlington

Consett had the first chance of the second half when Ross won the ball in the corner from ex-Newcastle junior Chris Carr and sent a tantalising low cross across the goalmouth which Lund just failed to get on the end of.

The Steelmen didn’t have to wait long for a goal, however, and it came on 56 minutes from midweek hat-trick hero Poole. Ross again did the spadework down the right, and Hewitson’s excellent pass picked out the ex-Bedlington player, who made no mistake from eight yards.

Bedlington sought an immediate response, with Steven Stewart firing across the face of the goal, and Ben Christensen’s speculative effort from the left needing a touch over the top by Poskett.

Mark Eccles, on as a sub for Lund, then saw one chipped effort deflected wide for a corner, before Newton tipped over his inswinging flag kick, which was heading in. Then came an astonishing sequence of near-misses which left the crowd gasping.

First, Ross rose highest to meet Jonjo Dickman’s left-wing corner, only to watch his header stay out via a combination of the post and a defender. The ball rebounded down for Barton, whose follow-up rattled the bar. A minute later Eccles hit the bar with a curling effort, and then he tested Newton with a dipping free-kick, which the keeper just manage to palm away from the lurking Barton. The No 9 swivelled and hit a shot which again cannoned off the bar. A quick break then saw Ross set up his third strike partner in three games for a shot at goal, but Barton fired inches over.

Bedlington took off Benjamin, who has been well shackled, but finished with three up front, with Davey Southern and Shaun Reay joining the ever-dangerous Shandran. But they couldn’t muster a clear-cut chance, even after skipper Carl Piecha went of, to be replaced by David Scorer, and Consett held on reasonably comfortably for a well-deserved win, which Lindoe described as “ a six-pointer”, even at this stage of the season.

Full time: Consett 1-0 Bedlington

GARY WELFORD