Struggling Heed tumble to third straight defeat
IT wasn’t a good Friday for Gateshead as Sutton United beat them 3-0 at Gander Green Lane in the Vanarama National League.
Heed midfielder JJ O’Donnell returned to the starting 11 for the first time since 2014 after making a miraculous comeback from injury.
But sadly it wasn’t to be the fairytale game Gateshead would have hoped for as Sutton strolled to a deserved victory thanks to a Roarie Deacon penalty and a Maxime Biamou brace.
It was the hosts who created the first decent chance of the game as Jack Jebb’s low cross was turned just wide by the arriving Maxime Biamou at the near post inside the opening five minutes.
But overall there was little to choose between the sides in the opening exchanges although the Heed would soon see a very good chance for themselves go begging.
Some good work from O’Donnell down the left saw the wideman lose his man before whipping in a dangerous low ball into the area, which deceived United keeper Will Puddy before falling to Mitch Brundle, who just couldn’t find his footing to turn the ball home from close range.
Paddy McLaughlin soon had another good chance for the away side as he won back possession in a dangerous area before shooting just over the Sutton crossbar from the edge of the box.
The first half was a largely end-toend affair as Jack Jebb soon saw his effort narrowly miss the target as both sides struggled to test their opposing keepers.
Ten minutes before half-time Wes York had the ball in the net but it was quickly disallowed as Luke Hannant was adjudged to have committed a foul in the build-up.
And as half-time approached, it would be Sutton who had a golden chance to go into the break with the lead as Heed goalkeeper Dan Hanford brought down Biamou inside the penalty area.
The referee was quick to point to the spot and Deacon was quick to convert to give the hosts a 1-0 halftime break.
The opening 10 minutes after the break saw Gateshead push for an equaliser with O’Donnell putting in several dangerous crosses into the penalty area without any real success.
But on the hour mark, the home side doubled their lead as Biamou, unmarked in the penalty area, saw the ball fall nicely to him before stroking it past Hanford from close range.
The Gateshead keeper was in action again just moments later as he prevented Kieron Cadogan from making it 3-0.
And going into the closing stages Gateshead were struggling to find a way back into the game as United continued to press for another.
After 80 minutes it seemed as though they had found a third as Jamie Collins headed into the back of the net and the goal seemed to be given.
But the aftermath saw an altercation between Manny Smith and Cadogan which saw them each pick up a booking as Gateshead were awarded a free-kick.
But just over a minute later it would be 3-0, as Biamou turned in his second of the afternoon from close range as he once again took advantage of the space he was given.
And that pretty much confirmed another very poor day at the office for the Tynesiders as they sank to a third consecutive National League defeat as their chances of making the play-offs are now all but over.