Home still not where heart is for Watson

GATESHEAD manager Steve Watson was disappointed to see his side’s five-game unbeaten run come to a halt last night.

The Heed lost 2-1 at home to a lowly Barrow side that is on the up under their new manager Ady Pennock.

The Cumbrians led on the halfhour through striker Byron Harrison only for Wes York to level just before the break.

Both sides then hit the post early in the second half, the Heed for the second time, but the livelier Barrow found the winner.

Harry Panayiotou struck a thunderous shot into the top corner after laving Birmingham loanee Luke Maxwell for dead.

Watson said: “I’m hugely disappointed, not just with the result but the lack of quality again.

“We maybe got away with it a bit on Saturday against Tranmere when we weren’t at our best, and Barrow will climb the league.

“But it’s another home game when we haven’t really dominated, or put our stamp on the game.

“We’ve played some very good football away from home and we’ve had some good wins at home without dominating the football.

“The goals against were disappointing after we’ve been so tight at the back and a couple of people didn’t do their jobs.

“Once the players get on the pitch they have to manage that and we didn’t do enough to win.

“The first goal they were through one-on-one and the second was just bad defending from a midfielder who gambled.

“We’ve done relatively well until now with a very good defensive record and we don’t become a bad team in 90 minutes.”

Gateshead had been opened up a few times before Bradley Bauress slipped in Harrison, who found the far corner from inside the box.

The Heed were given a timely lift when Hannant, their liveliest performer on the night, set up York who finished clinically.

Harrison then headed a Panayiotou corner onto the post, Hannant doing likewise with a sweet strike from outside the box.

Barrow were the sharper side, Gateshead sluggish, and they made it back-to-back away wins through Panayiotou’s super strike on the hour.

Watson’s men conceded their first goal in eight hours of football and will now look to get back on track at lowly Solihull Moors this weekend.