ANOTHER masterclass in finishing from Michael Mackay gave Consett a full-deserved three points in an entertaining game which belied the difficult conditions. Three days after scoring all five in the 5-1 win over Jarrow Roofing, he helped himself to four more, taking his tally for the season to 35.

Manager Kenny Lindoe made two changes to the side which had won in midweek, with David Brown returning at left-back and David Molloy up front for the unavailable Richard Slaughter and unwell Dale Burrell. Guisborough included two former Steelmen in their side, goalkeeper Jack Norton, and Jamie Poole, playing in central midfield.

Poole earned himself a talking-to from the referee after just a couple of minutes after reacting angrily to a tackle from former team-mate Anthony Lund which left him face down in the midfield mud.

Michael Mackay fires Consett ahead

Consett, playing with the strong wind at their back, took control from the start, and had their first real chance on 12 minutes. Harrison Davies’ corner from the right was met firmly by the head of David Scorer, but Norton saved well on his line. Davies then put Molloy clean through, but the No 9’s touch was too heavy and the chance was gone. Davies, who was at the centre of most of the home side’s attacking play, then tried his luck with a first-time shot from Norton’s wind-hampered kick out, and saw it beat the keeper but flash past the far post.

Mackay's exquisite chip makes it 2-0

The breakthrough came on the half-hour, when Consett were awarded a free-kick for a foul on Matty Slocombe which earned Guisborough’s James Decosemo a yellow card. The ball was played forward to Scorer on the edge of the box, and Mackay let his headed pass bounce once before finishing first-time past Norton from 12 yards.

Consett were playing with real confidence now, and it was hard to believe that this time last week they were fourth-bottom of the table. Scorer came close to doubling their lead with another header after skipper Carl Piecha kept a Davies corner alive at the back post, but was denied by a fine save by Norton, who touched the ball over the bar.

Norton then did even better, pulling off a double save from Molloy, who was sent clear by Mackay’s delightful round-the-corner pass, and Gavin Ross, who tried to chip him with the follow-up. The respite couldn’t last, however, and five minutes before the break Mackay made it 2-0, chipping the keeper from 20 yards after being released by a great Davies pass.

Half time: Consett 2-0 Guisborough

Consett were good value for their two-goal lead, but the question on everyone’s lips was whether they could withstand the expected wind-assisted Guisborough onslaught in the second half. The visitors’ first chance of the half came when Consett found just how hard it was to clear their lines into the wind. Davies’ throw-in back to his goalkeeper saw Jameson kick poorly, and the team in blue streamed forward. When the ball fell to Guisborough’s standout player, Decosemo, 10 yards out, a goal looked inevitable, but Jameson redeemed himself with a good save.

Consett were coping with the conditions far better than Guisborough had, and 12 minutes into the half they took an even tighter grip on the game when Mackay completed his hat-trick. Lund won the ball and passed it to the No 10, just over the halfway line. He beat his man, ran at the last defender, and chipped Norton again from slightly further out than his previous effort.

As the conditions worsened, with driving sleet beginning to fall, Consett almost scored a fourth. Davies was again the architect, sending Lund galloping down the left, and he picked out Mackay, whose shot was saved by Norton with his feet.

Thirty seconds later, however, it was game on, when Guisborough pulled a goal back. A cross by Liam O’Sullivan from the left seemed a simple enough catch for Jameson until he collided with Scorer, and dropped the ball. It fell kindly for Guisborough No 9 Nathan Steel, who gratefully accepted the simple finish from a few yards out.

Norton tips David Scorer's header over the bar

Jameson was okay to continue after treatment, but the next thing he had to do was pick the ball out of his net again three minutes later. O’Sullivan was again the creator, this time with a long throw from the left. It was flicked on by big centre-half Tommy Marron at the front of the six-yard box, and Steel nipped in front of a defender to head home.

David Molloy shoots

With 13 minutes left it was game on, and Jameson had to stretch to keep out another Steel header as the Consett defence allowed him too much space. Guisborough were piling men forward in search of an equaliser, which made them vulnerable to a Consett breakaway, and Norton had to be alert when a great Davies pass found Lund’s run, with the keeper reaching the ball to kick clear a fraction before the midfielder got there.

Young Jack Stanger, on as a sub for Ross, almost clinched the game when sent clear by Davies, only for Norton to save well. But Consett got the fourth goal their performance deserved in the second minute of added time when their other 17-year-old, Matty Slocombe, released Mackay down the right-hand channel. The former Hartlepool striker doesn’t miss chances like that when he’s in the mood, and a trademark finish made it 4-2 and completed another very good afternoon’s work for the popular No 10.

The three well-deserved points lifted Consett to 16th, above South Shields on goal difference, and seven points clear of the third-bottom spot which loomed ominously a week before. Many supporters feared the worst after the departures of Jamie Poole and Marc Walton. On this form, the Steelmen are a better team without them.

Full time: Consett 4-2 Guisborough

GARY WELFORD