Heed’s mixed pre-season comes to Harro-ing end
TYNESIDERS ARE SECOND BEST IN YORKSHIRE
GATESHEAD’S pre-season campaign came to a disappointing end yesterday with 3-0 defeat at the hands of Neil Aspin’s former side Harrogate Town.
The Heed were second best throughout as they struggled to deal with the home side’s pace on the artificial pitch at Wetherby Road.
Jordan Thewlis netted a first-half brace for Town with George Thomson also on target in the 57th minute as Aspin endured an unhappy return to his former club.
The 52-year-old Aspin spent fourand-a-half years at Harrogate as manager before leaving for FC Halifax in 2009 .
His Gateshead side have now gone five games without a win during preseason, with three 1-1 draws and two defeats.
The Heed had started their pre-sea- son with three straight victories against Dunston UTS, Motherwell and Billingham Synthonia. Gateshead were on the back foot early on as Thomson forced James Montgomery into action with a powerful effort from 10-yards out.
The Vanarama North side then forced Montgomery into making another save in the eighth minute with Thewlis firing straight at the shot-stopper.
Gateshead, who have lost four of their starting back-five from last season, have kept just two clean sheets during preseason – against Northern League duo Dunston and Billingham Synthonia.
And the Heed were behind in the 17th minute in North Yorkshire as Thewlis produced a calm half-volley into the top-left corner.
The Harrogate forward then pounced on a defensive error from on-loan Fraser Horsfall four minutes later to double the home side’s lead.
Taking advantage of a poor back pass from the Huddersfield loanee, the for- ward rounded Montgomery before netting his second of the afternoon.
It could have been three for Town before half-time as Jack Emmett headed home at the back post in the 26th minute but the flag was raised for offside.
At the other end, Macaulay Langstaff’s effort was tipped over in the 31st minute before Robbie Tinkler’s 15-yard effort was well saved.
The dangerous Thomson then went close for Harrogate, curling a free-kick just wide, before Gateshead’s Theo Vassell headed straight at James Belshaw.
Despite four changes at the break, there was little improvement from Gateshead in the second half and Thomson stretched Harrogate’s lead further on 57 minutes.
Firing home from 25 yards out, the former FC United man put the game to bed with more than 30 minutes remaining as Gateshead’s struggles continued.
The closest the Tynesiders came to a breakthrough was from a wayward clearance from Harrogate’s Warren Burrell, which flew just wide of his own goal.
Gateshead created further chances through JJ O’Donnell and Robbie Tinkler in the final 15 minutes but a comeback never looked likely.
Aspin’s side begin their Vanarama National League campaign on Saturday with a long trip to Woking and the Heed will need to improve.
They then welcome Guiseley to the International stadium on the following Tuesday for their first home game of the new campaign.