Consett show Steel to see off the Town
CONSETT moved into the top four of Northern League Division One after a hard-earned 3-2 win against Guisborough Town.
Things looked straightforward for the Steelmen on six minutes when Michael Mackay made the most of being handed a starting place by turning two Priorymen defenders and firing past goalkeeper Jordan Nixon.
The lead was doubled in first-half injury-time as Consett captain Daniel Craggs curled a superb freekick over the wall and into the far-corner from around 25 yards from goal.
Nixon dived full-length but nothing could stop the ball nestling inside his far post.
Guisborough were muchimproved in the second half and halved the deficit just after the hour mark as Brian Close was left unmarked at the far post and made no mistake with a powerful finish.
Consett restored their two-goal advantage on 76 minutes as Mackay grabbed his second by firing home, via a deflection, from the edge of the Guisborough area.
The visitors got themselves back into the game with six minutes remaining as Jay Wilson grabbed his first goal for the club with a sublime curling effort from around 20 yards from goal.
However, they could not find an equaliser and Consett held on to take three points.
Stockton Town came out on top in the only other Northern League fixture to take place.
The Anchors continued their recent improvement with a 3-1 home win against Ryhope CW.
Jamie Owens gave the hosts a tenth-minute lead, pouncing on a rebound after Ryhope goalkeeper Jonathan Ball had saved from Dale Mulligan.
Stockton had to wait until the second half to double their lead and it came when wingers James Risborough and Kevin Hayes combined for the latter to fire home from close range at the far post.
Ryhope halved the deficit with 15 minutes remaining thanks to a Matty Weirs strike but it was their hosts who took the three points as Max Craggs curled home a sublime free-kick from 25 yards.
Ryhope had defender Danni Lay dismissed for a professional foul in the closing stages as they fell to a defeat which saw Stockton leapfrog them into 12th position in the table.