CONSETT went second in the league, just a point behind leaders Shildon, after this comfortable win at a wind and rain-lashed Belle Vue. Manager Ken Lindoe made just one change to the side which had won at Penrith the previous weekend, with Richard Slaughter coming in for his first start at the expense of Danny Craggs.

RCA could have gone within 30 seconds of kick-off had it not been for the alertness of Consett keeper Barry Poskett. An attack down the right saw him smartly off his line to thwart Joseph Walton from 12 yards as his defence was caught napping.

The first 20 minutes were extremely scrappy as both sides struggled to come to terms with the conditions, but Consett slowly began to create chances.

Mark Eccles had a couple of efforts from outside the box, but the first lacked power and the second fizzed wide of the right-hand post. Marc Walton also tried his luck from 25 yards, but again his shot skidded wide.

A big punt upfield by David Scorer saw Jamie Poole lob the keeper, but his attempt held up in the wind and a defender was able to clear at the expense of a corner.

RCA had created nothing, but had a good chance on 29 minutes when Eccles was somehow left as Consett’s last man, and was adjudged to have fouled his man as they contested possession. Keith Graydon’s free-kick from 25 yards was well-struck, but Poskett was equal to it, saving well down by his right-hand post.

A minute later Consett were ahead, and this time Eccles was involved at the right end of the pitch. Dickman picked up the ball in midfield and played it wide to Scorer. His pass inside for Eccles saw the midfielder crack home a first-time shot from just outside the box with his trusty left foot.

Consett’s tails were up now, and they almost had a second just two minutes later. A good cross from Slaughter on the right saw Barton’s header come back off a defender, and Poole’s follow-up shot was deflected off a defender for another corner.

The respite didn’t last long, and on 37 minutes Consett doubled their lead. Poole was brought down a yard inside the box as he burst forward onto Walton’s pass, and picked himself up to confidently lash home the resulting penalty for his 20th goal of the season.

Eccles came within a whisker of making it three when he unleashed a 25-yarder that flashed just past the post with RCA keeper Hoggeth beaten.

Walton’s shot from an acute angle dropped just over the bar as Consett finished the half strongly, and the No 10 then turned provider for Eccles, who forced a good save from Hoggeth, and a defender just beat Gavin Barton to the rebound.

Half time: Consett 2-0 RCA

Half-time arrived with the Steelmen 2-0 and well in control, and within seven minutes of the restart they had increased their lead. Eccles played a quick free-kick short to Poole wide on the left, and his speculative effort ended up in the top right-hand corner. Cross or shot – who knows, or cares? Consett were 3-0 up.

Despite playing into the increasingly-strong wind, they continued to take the game to their opponents, who offered little as an attacking force, despite a trio of substitutions.

The only remotely uneasy moment for Consett was when Poskett came for a cross through a crowd of players, fumbled and had to drop on the ball to smother it at the second attempt.

Consett continued to make chances, with an Eccles effort from 30 yards dipping over, Walton shooting wide after good work from Poole and Eccles down the left, and Piecha heading over from six yards from Eccles’ cross.

With 15 minutes to go, Eccles, who had one of his best games since his return, found Walton with a fine pass, and the striker beat two defenders before forcing a good save from Hoggeth.

That was it as far as chances went, and as the conditions deteriorated further, Consett took the opportunity to rest some tired legs near the end. Andrew Cuthbertson, Kieran Megran and Gavin Ross came on for Craig Robson, Mark Eccles and Gavin Barton, and they saw out the game with ease.

The three points took Consett back above Spennymoor, and Shildon’s home defeat at the hands of Whitley Bay means the Steelmen are just one point behind the leader, with a game in hand.

Full time: Consett 3-0 RCA

GARY WELFORD