Heed boss to appeal ‘diabolical’ red card
GATESHEAD will appeal Theo Vassell’s red card at Maidstone on Saturday and expect the player to face Boreham Wood on Tyneside this weekend.
Vassell was sent off just 10 minutes into the game at the Gallagher Stadium for a foul on Stones’ striker Zavon Hines.
The former West Ham man went past Vassell on the left of the box, the chasing Vassell then catching Hines on the back with his arm.
Contact was minimal, certainly not enough for the 28-year-old to go to ground, a penalty and red card a disastrous opening for the Heed in Kent.
Aspin said: “I have been in football for 36 years and that is one of the worst red cards I have ever seen in my life.
“It was absolutely diabolical. I think it was harsh enough that it was a penalty and for Vassell to be sent off just spoilt the game.
“We recovered well from it and deserved to get a point but it goes without saying we will be appealing the decision.
“Anyone who was in the ground would be shaking their heads and askinghow he was sent off.”
The positive from the incident is the fact the Heed showed great character to fightback after going two down, despite having only 10 men.
Aspin added: “Getting a point was a bonus in the circumstances.
“It was deserved and I was really pleased with all the players.” After Hines gave Maidstone an early lead from the spot, the in-form Kent outfit doubled their lead midway through the second half.
Alex Wynter fired home from 12 yards but the Heed pulled a goal straight back from the kick-off through front man Richard Peniket.
Danny Johnson’s cross from the left saw an exquisite first touch take the ball past advancing Stones’ goalkeeper Lee Worgan and Peniket fired into an empty net.
Maidstone captain Worgan was also culpable for Gateshead’s equaliser 10 minutes from time.
A long ball out if defence was flicked on by Peniket for Johnson to beat his man and hammer an angled shot between Worgan and the near post from 16 yards.
It was no more than a plucky Gateshead deserved as they made light of the 3G surface and Vassell’s early dismissal, Stones’ boss Jay Saunders impressed.
He said: “It was never a red card and Gateshead were outstanding when they went down to 10 men.”
DON’T miss tomorrow night’s Grassroots Sport for reports on all of Saturday’s minor league football action - including games in the Northern Alliance League.