CONSETT maintained their 100 per cent home league record and extended their lead at the top of the Northern League to four points after a hard-fought victory over Norton and Stockton Ancients. Unsurprisingly, manager Kenny Lindoe stuck with the starting XI which had beaten Spennymoor Town 3-1 at the Brewery Field seven days previously, which meant fit-again Mark Eccles had to be content with a place among the substitutes. Norton, who have strengthened well after their run to the last eight of the FA Vase last season, included two familiar faces in their line-up, Steven Huggins and Andrew Burton, who both spent last season at Belle Vue.

The visitors were clearly conscious of Consett's six wins out of six at home going into this game, and their gameplan seemed to be to frustrate the Steelmen by defending deep, and getting as many men behind the ball as possible. Every time Consett went forward they faced two walls of white shirts, with the back four on the edge of their own area, and the midfield a few yards in front. This made for an extremely scrappy opening half, in which chances were few and far between.

It was half an hour before the visitors showed at all, and when they did David Scorer had to be alert to head Danny Earl's cross from the right away from under his own crossbar, with big No 9 Jamie Clarke looking to get on the end of it. That was it in an attacking sense until two minutes before half-time, when a flurry of activity produced more chances than in the rest of the half put together.

First Megran and Jonjo Dickman combined well down the right to set up Barton, but his shot on the turn lacked power, and was a comfortable take for former Gateshead goalkeeper Jim Provett. Then, at the other end, Norton had their first shot of the game, when Clarke hit one on the turn which whistled not too far wide of the post.

The final action of the half came when Teasdale, full of confidence after his man-of-the-match show at Spennymoor, came the closest yet to breaking the deadlock with a wonderful piece of improvisation. Receiving the ball on the right touchline, 35 yards out, he took one touch, and, spotting the keeper a couple of yards off his line, unleashed a swerving, dipping effort which just missed the top left-hand corner.

Half time: Consett 0-0 Norton

The young striker was not to be denied for long, however, and five minutes into the second half he got his fourth goal in three games. A pass to Cuthbertson on the edge of the box saw the midfielder shape to shoot, but instead slide a ball through to the No 10, who slotted it under the advancing keeper.

Consett's third, on 72 minutes, was a sweeping move which owed everything to Ryan Bell, who had only been on the field a few minutes as a sub for Megran. Receiving the ball from Barton on halfway, he stormed down the right flank, skinning the full-back, before playing an inch-perfect ball into the middle for Teasdale to sweep home with a first-time strike, and his fifth goal in three games.

There was a flurry of substitions by both sides, including a first appearance in a month by Eccles, but no more scoring chances until deep into stoppage time, when sloppy defensive work by Consett let in Earl to grab a late consolation for the visitors and deny the home side a clean sheet.

Second-placed Shildon's 2-2 draw at Jarrow Roofing meant the Steelmen's lead at the top was extended to four points, with a free midweek in which they could plan for the next game.

Full time: Consett 3-1 Norton

GARY WELFORD