Heed denied as hosts hit back at death
GATESHEAD were denied another victory in pre-season when they conceded an equaliser at the death against Whitby Town.
Danny Johnson’s goal eight minutes into the second half looked to be enough to record a fourth win from five games.
But the Heed failed to deal with a 90th-minute corner from a trialist and Nial McGoldrick headed home to make it 1-1.
Defenders James Bolton and Jamal Fyfield, along with midfield men Luke Hannant and Keiran Green, were all absent at the Turnbull Ground.
Both sides failed to take a one-on-one during a competitive first half, Wes York missing out for the Heed.
Johnson, one of five half-time substitutes, and eight in total in the second half, opened the scoring with an angled drive.
Evo-Stik Northern Premier League side Whitby, however, had the final word, an unbeaten Heed at home to a Newcastle United X1 on Saturday.
Midfield man David McTiernan, signed from Whitby, scored a second-half hat-trick as Blyth Spartans came from behind to beat a young Sunderland side.
Spartans trailed at the break after Ross Greenwood scored on the half-hour.
Two McTiernan goals in five minutes either side of the hour, both headers, turned the tables on the Black Cats.
McTiernan then scored a third three minutes later when he got on the end of former Wearsider Michael Liddle’s cross.
Elliot Embleton got Sunderland back in it from the penalty spot on 76 minutes but Blyth held on to win 3-2.