McNall is Maid up at earning Heed replay

LEWIS McNall scored his second goal in four games for Gateshead to keep his home town club on the Wembley trail.

The Newcastle United loanee came off the bench midway through the second half at Maidstone along with fellow striker Richard Peniket.

With the Heed trailing to Jamar Loza’s goal on the hour, both substitutes scored to turn the tie in Kent on its head.

McNall’s header from Scott Barrow’s cross was followed by Peniket’s shot on the turn, both efforts deflected into the net off Stones’ defenders.

Jai Reason made it 2-2 in the last minute with another deflected effort, McNall almost nicking it deep into stoppage time.

The 18-year-old, whose dad Keith scored a century of goals during seven years at Gateshead, broke free - only to be denied by Stones’ goalkeeper Lee Worgan.

The two sides will lock horns for the third time in 11 days in tomorrow night’s replay on Tyneside - a place in the quarter-finals at stake. McNall’s only start came the previous weekend against Maidstone in the league - and he marked the occasion with a goal inside the opening three minutes.

A former Gateshead Juniors player, McNall has settled in well at the International Stadium - and is hoping to keep the goals flowing.

He said: “It has been a good start for me scoring two goals - and more importantly the team is doing well.

“I am really enjoying it at Gateshead and to come off the bench and score straight away at Maidstone was very pleasing.

“It was disappointing we were pegged back so late in the game and frustrating I did not score the winner in injury time.

“It was on my weaker right foot but the contact was decent and the goalkeeper made a good save.”

Manager Steve Watson, whose side also hit the bar through debutant Rees Greenwood, believes the Heed were unlucky not to win - and praised McNall.

Watson said: “For such a young lad he gets himself into really good positions.

“He scored a good goal and was unlucky not to grab the winner.”