CONSETT suffered a right hammering at the hands of a rampant Benfield side, but it could have been a different story if they had taken chances at key moments in the game.

Kenny Lindoe made two changes to the side which had drawn at Sunderland RCA, with Jamie Poole and new signing Anthony Lund coming in for Jonny Hewitson and Ben Johnson.

The home side had two former Steelmen in their starting XI - Guy Bates at centre-forward and his ex-strike partner Brian Dodsworth at right-back!

Consett started the brighter, and carved out a chance for Jonjo Dickman after just eight minutes, but he scuffed his effort wide. Then Glen Robson was unlucky to see Andrew Grainger just stretch far enough to pluck his shot out of the air after he cut in from the left and sent a superb curler towards the top corner.

It was a promising start, but on 15 minutes Consett found themselves behind when the defence failed to cut out a pass from left-back Carl Paterson, and in-form striker John Campbell was left with a simple finish.

Midway through the half they should have been level when an excellent Danny Craggs cross from the right picked out Lewis Teasdale, but he directed his header from 10 yards out agonisingly wide.

It was to prove a costly miss, as less than 60 seconds later Consett were 2-0 down. The defence were caught napping by a big punt upfield, and Bates beat keeper Barry Poskett to the ball as he came off his line. The ex-Newcastle reserve was first to the loose ball to double the home side's advantage.

Four minutes later things went from bad to worse when Bates unselfishly set up Cambell for a tap-in after a simple through ball found him in acres of space.
Consett were lucky not to go in at the interval even further behind, as Bates was off target with a simple header and Dodsworth slid a chance just wide at the front post.

Half time: Benfield 3-0 Consett

Bates should have increased Benfield's lead from the kick-off in the second half, bursting straight through the middle virtually unmolested, but he put his shot straight at Poskett.

Dodsworth tried his luck from 25 yards, and then winger Chris Feasey tried to get in on the act, cutting in from the left and opting for a shot with Campbell and Bates better-placed in the middle.

On 51 minutes Consett had a glorious opportunity to get a foothold back into the game. Lund beat his man down the left and reached the byline, where he picked out Robson, but the striker headed wide with the goal at his mercy.

To be fair, Robson was carrying an injury, and was immediately replaced by Andrew Snaith, and Consett brought on more fresh legs in the form of young striker Gavin Ross, for the struggling Teasdale

In the 65th minute Consett got the break they needed when Benfield sub Andrew Dugdale brought down Danny Craggs in the box, and Jamie Poole stepped up to send the keeper the wrong way to make it 3-1.

The goal provided a glimmer of hope, but it didn't last long, as Consett gifted their opponents a fourth goal. Bates created havoc by running at the defence, and it took a fine last-ditch challenge from Richard Forster to cut out his cross to the lurking Campbell. The respite didn't last long, as the resulting left-wing corner from Feasey saw Kevin Leighton rise unchallenged to head home from close range.

In the last 15 minutes the fight had gone out of Consett, and Benfield threatened to score every time they went forward, with Bates and Campbell a constant threat.

Poskett saved well from Feasey and Paterson flashed a 25-yarder wide before Benfield got their inevitable fifth goal in injury time. Consett surrendered possession for the umpteenth time, and Dodsworth set up Campbell for a well-deserved hat-trick.

It was a well-beaten and demoralised visiting side which trooped off the field at the final whistle, with the manager facing the unenviable task of raising their spirits for a Bank Holiday double header with Esh Winning.

Full time: Benfield 5-1 Consett

GARY WELFORD