SECOND Division leaders Guisborough gave Consett a stern test in this opening round of the League Cup, but two awful misses at crucial points, some fine goalkeeping by Barry Poskett and clinical finishing at the other end meant it was the Steelmen who advanced into round two with a slightly flattering victory.

Kenny Lindoe made one enforced change to the side which put six past Stokesley four days earlier, Ben Johnson coming in up front for flu victim Gavin Ross. The Priorymen, unbeaten in all competitions this season, had ex-Consett keeper Jack Norton in goal, and it turned out to be a night he won't forget in a hurry.

Guisborough gave notice from the start that they intended to take the game to Consett, and centre-forward David Onions should have done better on just four minutes when he failed to get his head on Gary Wood's excellent left-wing cross.

The miss proved costly when Consett went ahead two minutes later with their first attack. Andrew Cuthbertson began the move in the middle, spraying the ball out to Jonny Hewitson on the right. He surged into the box and hit a fierce drive, which Norton beat out. Gavin Barton kept the ball alive, and it dropped to Jamie Poole on the edge of the area, who hit a sweet half-volley into the top corner.

Onions had a chance to level on eight minutes, when a simple pass caught the Consett defence square, but he pulled his shot badly wide. Five minutes later his strike partner Nathan Steele steered a corner back into the danger zone, and Wood's header was deflected wide for another corner.

The visitors were enjoying the lion's share of possession, but Consett seemed happy enough to soak up the pressure and play on the break, like an away team. The tactic almost brought a second goal on 28 minutes when Richard Forster's ball from the back was flicked on by Barton, and Johnson fired a dipping effort at goal which Norton did well to paw over the bar.

Guisborough should have been level four minutes before half-time when Onions broke down the right and his cross was helped on to winger Karl Charlton, who somehow hit the bar from inside the six-yard box. As it had earlier, the miss proved costly, as three minutes later Consett had doubled their lead. A foul by Lee Bytheway on Carl Piecha on the edge of the box gave Consett a free-kick, which Poole took quickly, firing into the bottom corner and catching the defence napping.

Half time: Consett 2-0 Guisborough

The second half began with David Scorer on for Forster, who had picked up a knock, but again it was Guisborough who showed first, and they missed an even better chance five minutes into the half. Poskett saved well from Steele, but the ball broke kindly for Charlton, who was left with a simple sidefoot finish. But he ballooned the ball over the gaping goal from no more than four yards - a real candidate for miss of the season.

The next goal was going to be crucial, and Johnson came close to getting it with a smart volley straight at Norton. Then, at the other end, Poskett had to save at the feet of Shane Henry after he burst through the defence. The visitors did have the ball in the net on 57 minutes, but Onions was ruled offside. With Guisborough pressing hard for a way back into the game, Consett switched from 3-5-2 to 4-4-2, and immediately increased their advantage. A ball out from the back found Hewitson, who laid it back to Cuthbertson. His pinpoint ball over the top of the last defender picked out Barton, who volleyed home, and celebrated the goal with an extravagant bow!

Midway through the half it was 4-0, and again Barton was the scorer, taking his goal tally to six in four games. An excellent ball from Poole from inside his own half picked out the No 9's run between two defenders, and he lobbed the advancing Norton. With 11 minutes to go, Andrew Snaith, on as a sub for Scott Martindale, made it 5-0. Barton was this time the creator, putting through a great ball for his new strike partner to chase. 'Snappa' did just that, and he chased down a defender's attempted clearance, bustled it past Norton and into the empty net.

To Guisborough's credit they never stopped playing football, and Poskett was kept on his toes right to the end, diving low to his left to hold a snapshot from Henry and thwarting Onions at the edge of his box.

The victory extended Consett's winning run to six in all competitions, with 23 goals scored and only 6 conceded, and gave them a 2nd Round home tie against another 2nd Division side, Darlington Railway Athletic, where, if they're in this mood, they will be sorely disappointed if they don't progress into the last 16.

Full time: Consett 5-0 Guisborough

GARY WELFORD