Heed play-off hopes take knock as Miller provides

GATESHEAD’S play-off hopes suffered a significant dent as their 10 game unbeaten run was ended by a 2-0 defeat at Dover Athletic.

Ricky Miller’s 33rd and 34th league goals of the season ultimately separated the sides at Crabble Athletic Ground as Gateshead slipped to eighth in the National League table.

Neil Aspin’s men are now four points adrift of the final play-off place with five games remaining, but that gap could be extended to five should Dover win their game in hand.

Saturday afternoon’s match started in a fairly end to end fashion as there was little to separate the sides as both were reduced to set piece chances.

Captain Liam Hogan managed to DOVER ATHLETIC GATESHEAD 2 0 connect with Jordan Burrow’s flick-on inside the opening quarter-hour but Whites stopper Mitch Walker was in the right place to comfortably collect.

And in the 33rd minute Hogan was involved in the action again as he brought down Dover dangerman Miller 25-yards from goal. The Heed skipper escaped a booking but Miller was quick to punish the visitors anyway has he brilliantly curled the ball into the top right-hand corner of the goal.

It was the forward’s 33rd league goal of the season and there was very little Tynesiders’ keeper James Montgomery could do about it as the Heed would have to come from behind like they did against Dover at the International Stadium back in October.

And Aspin’s men responded quite well as Dover sat back in an attempt to keep their lead until half-time and just before the break Paddy McLaughlin almost drew them level.

Some great work from Danny Johnson down the left flank enabled him to pick out McLaughlin inside the Dover penalty area but Athletic keeper Walker was equal to it with a fine stop.

The half-time whistle soon blew as Miller’s free-kick was the only thing separating the sides in an otherwise tight first 45.

However, after the break it was a different story as Dover quickly took charge with Moses Emmanuel coming close just seconds after the restart.

Moments later Emmanuel had another chance to get his goal as he broke away and made his way into the box before dinking the ball over James Montgomery — the crowd were on their feet but the shot inched just wide.

Less than a minute after that Emmanuel turned provider as he slid in Miller whose first time effort cannoned back off the left post as Gateshead survived once again.

Dover could have been out of sight