Heed take points despite late scare
THEY did it the hard way and a tumultuous final 15 minutes almost derailed them, but Gateshead just managed to get over the line.
It was a Vanarama National League derby against Hartlepool on Boxing Day that had bit of everything in it at the International Stadium.
Two goals to the good at half-time through Luke Armstrong’s double, Gateshead found themselves on the back foot after the break.
They defended doggedly until they imploded in the closing stages after midfielder Tom White was sent off on 83 minutes.
Liam Noble’s penalty after Aynsley Pears brought down Pools sub Luke James soon halved the deficit.
A ten-man Heed were hanging on but when Armstrong was penalised on 90 minutes Tynesider Noble had the chance to square things up.
This time, however, the midfielder struck the outside of the post, Kenton Richardson’s stoppage time cross also hitting the woodwork.
Hartlepool could so easily have had a share of the spoils, but Gateshead manager Steve Watson believed his side deserved the 2-1 win.
Watson told The Chronicle: “It was a tough last 15 minutes and we didn’t play very well in the second half after playing some good stuff in the first.
“I thought it was a bad decision from the referee to send White off as he’s done nothing except take the whole of the ball.
“Hartlepool got their tail up a bit and I would have been heartbroken if the second penalty had gone in.
“But overall, certainly the way the first half panned out, we were probably the team that deserved to win.
“It’s not the way that I wanted to the game to finish, but it’s another great win for us in what was a big derby.”
A crowd of 2,678 – 860 down on last year’s derby on Tyneside – saw Gateshead forge ahead on 13 minutes.
Armstrong’s low-angled drive went underneath diving Pools keeper Scott Loach.
A superb counter involving five players doubled the lead. Armstrong again found the net after Scott Barrow’s shot was blocked, Robbie Tinkler’s 35-yard rocket having earlier rattled the bar.
After White saw red Noble gave Hartlepool belated hope that was extinguished by his wayward second spot kick.
With White suspended and captain Scott Barrow straining his hamstring, Gateshead will hold a head count ahead of the visit of FC Halifax Town on Saturday.