Winners by a Heed on a day of drama
GATESHEAD manager Steve Watson has highlighted JJ O’Donnell’s contribution to the Heed cause following the wide man’s dismissal against Maidstone.
There was real drama in the dying minutes of Saturday’s clash with managerless Maidstone with a penalty, two red cards and a winning goal.
Before Scott Boden could make amends for his unsuccessful spot kick early in the game O’Donnell and the Stones Blair Turgott saw red.
The off-the-ball incident on 86 minutes came straight after the Heed had been awarded their second spot kick of the afternoon.
Boden this time sent Stones’ keeper Lee Worgan the wrong way to give Gateshead a merited 1-0 win, but O’Donnell will now miss tomorrow’s home game against Harrogate.
The Yorkshire newcomers are unbeaten after eight games, winning half of them like Gateshead, and the Heed will be down to the bare bones.
Watson is already without the services of experienced pair Scott Barrow and Mike Williamson along with top scorer Luke Armstrong - all injured.
Watson said: “I don’t know whether JJ has reacted or the referee has decided just to send them both off as I didn’t see the incident. “JJ is bitterly disappointed. He was outstanding today and has really come back fit and is a great member of the squad.
“He is very enthusiastic, which rubs off on people, and he’s changed his game a little bit to help us out.
“He has become a diligent leftback, who has got great quality going forward and I feel for him as it’s his first red card.”
The former Luton Town man played a part in both penalties, fouled for the first one and then finding Steven Rigg who earned the decisive second one. O’Donnell said: “It was one of the most eventful days I’ve had on a football pitch, and it was nice to help the boys get a deserved win.
“The first red card of my career put a downer on it, but it is something I can learn from,” he added. Gateshead were on top throughout against a Maidstone side that set its stall out for a point and defended resolutely but rarely foraged forward.
The majority in a disappointing crowd of 564, the lowest in the National League at the weekend, left home happy.
It was a first clean sheet of the season for Gateshead and the narrow win ended a run of four games without a victory.
Manager Watson added: “I would have been very disappointed if the game had finished 0-0 as we dominated from the first whistle to the last.”
JJ was outstanding today and has really come back fit and is a great member of the squad Steve Watson