GATESHEAD 3 MACCLESFIELD 0 Heed hit hot home form in Macc shut-out

GATESHEAD produced their best display of the season so far to sweep aside last season’s FA Trophy finalists Macclesfield Town.

The Heed are keen to make the International Stadium a fortress and they have put down a marker with three wins and no goals conceded on home soil.

While struggling Torquay were beaten 3-0 in the last game on Tyneside Neil Aspin’s men did not need the help of own goals to sink the Silkmen.

Strikers Jordan Burrow and Jordan Preston both found the net after Scottish defender Fraser Kerr had given Gateshead a dream start.

The Heed, unjustly beaten at Wrexham in midweek, bounced back in style against a Macc side whose finishing did not match their neat approach play.

The Cheshire outfit went close several times from distance, James Montgomery making full stretch saves from Scott Wilson and Scott Burgess.

But the Silkmen could not fashion anything inside the box, Gateshead possessing much more of a cutting edge.

The Tynesiders are back in the top six with three wins from their first five games – seven points ahead of win-less local rivals Hartlepool.

“We had the lead in the second half and then managed the game very well,” said delighted Heed manager Neil Aspin.

“We kept Macclesfield at arm’s length after having a bit of luck in the first half when we didn’t clear our lines very well at times.

“We scored goals at good times, especially the second one, which gave us a cushion going in at half-time.

“Getting the first goal early gave everyone a lift and for Kerr, who had to fill in at wing-back, to get the goal was pleasing.

“It was a really good performance from Preston, his best so far, and the reason that I signed him – he got his reward with the goal. Our front three were all good, they worked hard, challenged for every ball and caused problems – all round it’s been a very good day.”

The Heed got off to a flyer with a goal after only five minutes – but only after referee Danny Middleton over-ruled his linesman.

Preston’s surging run and Richard Peniket’s cross saw former Motherwell man Kerr sidefoot home, Burrow flagged for offside.

The goal, however, was given and after Burgess and Wilson had gone close for Macc, Preston had a great chance to double the lead.

His side-footed effort from Burrow’s return pass, however, was blocked by Silkmen keeper Billy O’Brien’s legs.

Paddy McLaughlin’s wellstruck drive was palmed away and former Macclesfield defender Niall Byrne headed the resultant corner just past the angle.

Kerr’s deflected cross was then headed home from close in by Burrow in first-half stoppage time, a blow from which the Silkmen never recovered.

Byrne was unable to play in the second half forcing yet another re-jig of the defence, but it mattered little, Burrow twice close to a third.

With Macclesfield a spent force live-wire Preston put the icing on the cake with the Heed’s third on 72 minutes.

Through on goal with only the keeper to beat the 21-year-old showed good composure to clinically fire past O’Brien to seal a fine win.