Burrow leads from front to please boss
GATESHEAD manager Neil Aspin praised frontman Jordan Burrow after the 3-0 win over Torquay United on Saturday.
The former Lincoln City and Stevenage man led the line well and had a hand in two of the three goals.
Aspin also singled out on-loan Newcastle United right-back Callum Williams and commended the defensive effort again.
The Gulls contributed to their own downfall by scoring two own goals, Richard Peniket with his first goal for the Heed.
Back-to-back home wins without conceding have put Gateshead up to third in the table.
Aspin said: “Williams did really well in the first half.
“He was a threat and deserved to force the opening goal.
“Burrow deserved the deflection for the last goal as he worked very hard all afternoon and his all-round play was great. I am really happy with six points out of nine in the first week, especially with the form we had going into the season.”
One negative came midway through the first half when summer signing Scott Barrow limped off with a knee injury.
Aspin added: “That was a blow and he may have damaged his medial ligament.
“We will have to see how it settles down.”
Former Motherwell defender Fraser Kerr came on but was then replaced himself by Jordan Preston for the second half as Aspin switched to a 4-3-3.
The manager said: “The team must come before the individual.
“I knew Kerr would be disappointed but the way they set up we needed to put an extra forward on instead of a defender.
“It did not work out until near the end but it suited the shape better but I would not have changed the formation if Barrow had still been playing.
“He had done well and was getting forward down the left.
“Circumstances dictated we had to change things around.”
Gateshead were ahead on 19 minutes when Williams’ low cross was turned into his own goal by Gulls’ defender Ryan Higgins.
Peniket came off the bench to double the lead in the 78th minute after good work from fellow substitute Preston inside the box.
Burrow then picked Sean McGinty’s pocket to drive across goal where Myles Anderson bundled the ball past his own goalkeeper Ryan Clarke.