Frustration to be held at Gateshead
MACCLESFIELD Town assistant manager Steve Watson admits he was frustrated not to take all three points during his side’s 1-1 draw with Gateshead last Tuesday.
It looked like the two teams were heading for a goalless draw at the Moss Rose, but Manny Smith opened the scoring for Gateshead on 75 minutes.
John McCombe struck seven minutes later though to ensure that both sides took a share of the spoils.
The draw for Macclesfield meant that Gateshead’s six-game winning run was brought to an end, Watson felt that his side should have got even more from the game.
“Overall, there was plenty of positives but when you dominate games it is frustrating not to get the three points,” he said.
“We played very well in the first half. We dominated the ball and had lots of possession. Gateshead are the in-form team in the league and had won six games in a row. They haven’t struggled to score goals and we restricted them to very little in the first half.
“We didn’t work their goalkeeper hard enough. In the second half they changed their system and it was much tougher to get enough time on the ball but we did have enough possession in dangerous areas to cause a lot more problems.
“They scored a sloppy goal but we had a good response through John McCombe. Him and George Pilkington were outstanding all night against three strikers who have virtually got Gateshead to where they are.”
Gateshead were lively in the opening stages and almost went ahead on five minutes when James Bolton narrowly fired wide.
Macc began to dictate proceedings from then onwards, having the majority of possession but failing to create many clear-cut opportunities.
They did have a good chance two minutes before the break when Chris Holroyd rounded Gateshead goalkeeper James Montgomery, but Smith managed to clear the shot off the line.
It was a quiet second half, with the next major chance coming when Smith got his side’s opening goal.
Scott Flinders had initially saved an attempt from Paddy McLaughlin, but Smith was on hand to slot the ball home from close range.
Macclesfield ensured they wouldn’t be left empty handed though as McCombe headed home from a free kick to make the final score 1-1.
The point left Macc in ninth place ahead of their trip to Chester as the Express went to print on Tuesday.