Disputed goal draws line under Heed run
GATESHEAD kept it in the family at Bromley but a disputed late winner ended the Heed’s four-game unbeaten start to the season.
Colchester loanee Junior UgediOzokwe’s close-range header two minutes from time bounced down off the underside of the bar.
It will be some time, if it happens at all, for goal-line technology to be implemented at the fifth level of English football.
Without it, replacement referee Scott Rudd had to accept the call from his linesman that the ball had crossed the line, a 1-0 home win sealed.
An injury to match referee Simeon Lucas on the stroke of half-time saw fourth official Rudd take over in the middle.
It also saw Chris O’Donnell, in the stands to watch brother JJ, the Heed wing-back, take over as an emergency linesman.
It was a quirk of fate that did not have a happy ending, O’Donnell scuffing a late chance on the 3G surface and Bromley going on to get a winner.
Former Premier League defender Roger Johnson was unchallenged when he back-headed a long throw into the danger area.
Ugedi-Ozokwe did the rest and what should have been a second good away point of the week saw Gateshead leave Hayes Lane with nothing.
It was a sucker-punch at the death, one that manager Steve Watson rued.
Watson said: “It was our worst day at the office. It’s hard to pick out anyone that played to the level they can and it was a very disappointing performance.
“You can have one or two people having an off day, but when you have the full team not performing to their potential you’ll struggle to get points away from home.”
While not making excuses for a side that has started the season impressively, Watson believes the right preparation for away games is crucial.
“I hate to harp on about it, but as the season goes on, travelling on the day of the game and getting off the bus after seven hours will impact on us, especially playing on a sapping surface like Bromley’s, which will cause us not to have the quality that we’ve got.
“I’m trying to give the players a little bit of a get-out, but the truth of the matter is that we were nowhere near good enough today.”
After three long hauls to the south to open their away programme, the next is one of the shortest, to Halifax next Monday.
That is the only away game in the next four fixtures, Leyton Orient on Tyneside on Saturday followed by Maidstone and Harrogate Town.