Thanks Pete I've researches a bit online about ways to deal with it, but wasn't sure which method to use that helps a bunch!
Tony,how did you know! LOL.
I had misplaced the insulators I was gonna use and made a snap decision.Won't be doing that again.
Anyway gotta check the rest of the components in that channel for collateral damage sometime this week cus as I said there is nothing from that channel, so it's likely more than just that transistor.