GATESHEAD 1 BROMLEY 2 Heed victims of yet another late disaster
ANOTHER home game, another late sickener for the Heed faithful whose patience must be wearing thin.
For the fourth consecutive game at the International Stadium Gateshead conceded a late goal, three of them costly.
On this occasion they surpassed themselves by letting in not one but two late goals to throw away victory.
Bromley had been poor, taking over an hour to register their first attempt at goal and 77 minutes for their first corner.
The Ravens looked to have had their wings clipped when Danny Johnson headed Gateshead in front midway through the second half.
Once again the Heed could not find the second goal that would probably have put the game to bed.
But in all fairness to a Gateshead side under caretaker manager Micky Cummins, it took a highly debatable refereeing decision to turn the tide against them.
Adam Mekki’s 84th minute through ball put defender Jack Holland, who had been pushed up front, in inside the box.
Scott Barrow looked to have executed his high risk, but neces- sary, challenge to perfection winning the ball as Holland tumbled over his outstretched leg.
Referee Joe Hull crucially thought differently and Louis Dennis swept home the resultant penalty to turn the game on its head.
The doubts flooded back for a Heed side that has lost the winning habit and it had to be Ravens’ sub Brett Williams that completed the smash grab.
So often Gateshead’s nemesis in the past when scoring for Aldershot and Torquay, he was at it again three minutes into injury time.
Fellow substitute Mekki was again the provider, his right-side cross powered home by the big front man, his header giving Dan Hanford no chance.
Gateshead will step up their efforts to find Aspin’s replacement this week – and the new appointment cannot come quick enough.
“The manner of the defeat was hard to take,” said Cummins. “I’ve never been in this position and felt like this and we did okay until the last 10 minutes.
“The penalty decision was very harsh. It changed the game massively, the doubt, which has been there for a while, crept back in.
“It’s the lead-up to the penalty that I’m frustrated about. Hanford has had nothing to do in goal except pick the ball out of the back of the net twice. I expected the old heads to get us through when the game went into the latter stages, but it was all too easy for Bromley.
“It was Bromley who were anticipating where the ball was going to drop, and them who were picking up the second balls.
“It was okay until the final minutes, and I said at half-time if we got a lead see the game out, be professional and do a job – but we didn’t manage to.”
Neither goalkeeper had a shot to save in the first half, Barrow missing a great chance, Johnson doing well to head home sub Richard Peniket’s cross at the back post.
That triggered a response from Bromley, who finally became a threat, Dennis wide when wellplaced before levelling from the spot.
Russell Penn again went close from distance before Williams produced the sting in the tail to condemn Gateshead to a demoralising defeat.