Penalty area woe hits Heed’s hopes WOKING 2 GATESHEAD 1
GATESHEAD got the season off to a disappointing start when they went down by the odd goal in three at Woking.
Danny Johnson popped up with an equaliser for the Heed but a goal on the stroke of half-time from the influential Joe Ward proved decisive.
Gateshead now have the opportunity to bounce back with home games Guiseley and Torquay United this week.
“The two goals we conceded were very preventable,” said Gateshead manager Neil Aspin.
“The first goal in particular was very bad defending on our behalf.
“Second half, they had one chance which hit the post, but we looked the better side and got forward more, so we should have got something from the game.
“Football usually comes down to what you do in both penalty areas and unfortunately we gave away two bad goals and weren’t clinical enough at the other.
“That’s what the game has hinged on. We know where we need to improve and the games come thick and fast so we’ll start preparing for Tuesday against Guiseley.”
Early play was in monsoon conditions accompanied by thunder and lightning in front of a crowd of 1,705 at Kingfield.
The Cards, under new Australian manager Anthony Limbrick, opened positively, James Montgomery making an early save from Joe Ward’s low drive.
Johnson went close at the other end with an effort from the edge of the box that was just wide before the home side took an 18th-minute lead.
A good ball from Bobson Bawling saw Inih Effiong run at the Heed defence to poke home at the second attempt after Montgomery blocked the first.
The lead lasted just eight minutes before last season’s leading scorer Johnson found the bottom corner with the aid Gateshead players celebrate Danny Johnson’s 26th-minute equaliser of a deflection.
The Heed employed a three-man attack and one of the trio, Jordan Preston, curled a free-kick around the defensive wall but straight at Cards’ keeper Nathan Baxter.
Just as they looked to have reached the break on level terms Ward, in space, restored the chome lead on 44 minutes with a good finish into the bottom corner.
Gateshead had been over-run at times in midfield and Boro loanee Robbie Tinkler replaced centre-back Fraser Kerr for the second half.
The switch to four at the back failed to get the Tynesiders back into the game, in a second 45 minutes of few chances.
Woking twice almost opened up a twogoal lead in the early stages of the half, the woodwork saving Gateshead on the second occasion.
Effiong shot just over from 25-yards and then Chez Isaac hit the post after a spot of pinball in the Heed area.
Aspin’s men were still in the game and could have been level once again on the hour.
Tinkler’s through ball put Preston in but Josh Staunton produced a goal-saving block to frustrate the summer signing.
Effiong had an opening at the other end but shot tamely at Montgomery, the Heed throwing on another striker, Richard Peniket, for the final 20 minutes.
Late pressure saw Preston shoot just over, Woking holding on to repeat their win over Gateshead in Surrey last season.