No defence for Heed errors, says Vassell
GATESHEAD stopper Theo Vassell believes his side must cut out defensive lapses if they are to make progress this season.
The Heed showed their battling qualities in coming from two down at Eastleigh, Vassell with his first goal for the club.
That came three minutes from time and should have been enough to secure a hard-earned draw on the road.
However, Spitfires’ substitutes Mark Yeates and veteran Ben Strevens combined to gun Gateshead down five minutes into stoppage time.
Strevens prodded home the latest of winners to leave Steve Watson’s men to travel the 330 miles back to Tyneside with nothing to show for their efforts.
The Heed were back on the road today, heading to London for an overnight stay ahead of tomorrow’s National League game at Leyton Orient.
It will be a first meeting between the two clubs, Gateshead also looking for their first away win in the league this season.
Four draws and four defeats have been their lot on their travels, but former Walsall man Vassell believes they should have gained something on Saturday.
Vassell said: “It was an extremely disappointing result for everyone.
“We did well to get back into the game but then threw it away right at the end.
“There are positives – we showed fight to get it back to 2-2 so late on – but the big, all-important negative is we then lost the game.
“We should not have been two goals down in the first place as we had some chances to score before that.
“I will admit poor defending cost us a point, if not all three.”
Paul McAllum’s through ball saw Ben Williamson get goal side of Vassell to give Hampshire-based Eastleigh an early lead.
Experienced striker James Constable then capitalised on time and space on the hour to curl an angled shot into the far top corner.
Jordan Preston gave Gateshead hope when he pulled a goal back, Vassell then equalising from close in before the Spitfires pinched it.
Vassell added: “It was my mistake for the first goal, so I thought I had atoned for it with the late equaliser – but it was not to be.”
Jamal Fyfield will return to the squad for tomorrow’s game at Brisbane Road, with both Leyton Orient and Gateshead in need of a lift..