The Chronicle

Shot-shy Heed Hav to settle for a draw

- By JEFF BOWRON

GATESHEAD stretched their unbeaten run under new manager Ben Clark to four games - but have now won only one of their last eight.

The Heed failed to penetrate the third worst defence in the Vanarama National League as lowly Havant and Waterloovi­lle earned a 0-0 draw.

It was a fifth consecutiv­e home game without a win since the Boxing Day victory over Hartlepool United.

The clean sheet was the first under Clark, Gateshead lacking the firepower they had at the end of 2018.

Luke Molyneux’s rapier runs, Luke Armstrong’s hustle and bustle up top and Scott Boden’s fox-in-thebox threat are all sorely missed.

Armstrong and Boden contribute­d 23 goals, Steven Rigg now the sole forward at the club and without a goal for almost four months.

Rigg’s last league goal was at Havant in mid-October but he could not replicate his winner at Westleigh Park in this match.

Winger Connor Thomson, out in the cold under Steve Watson, has been pressed into an unfamiliar striking role.

The problems in the final third were there for all to see on Saturday as the Heed fired blanks against the relegation-battling Hawks.

Defender Fraser Kerr and midfield man Greg Olley grabbed the goals in the previous weekend’s 2-1 win at lowly Dover.

Right-back Robbie Tinkler came the closest in a first half against Havant in which the Tynesiders played nicely in patches.

Thomson, set up by Rigg, had the Heed’s only clear opening in the second period - but shot wide of the far post.

In truth it was the Hampshire visitors who had the better chances in a a scrappy game played in difficult conditions.

Twice they were through one-onone but Gateshead’s on-loan Boro goalkeeper Aynsley Pears came out on top on both occasions.

Clark said: “I must credit Pears as he made two good saves in the game and a draw was a fair result.

“He has been brilliant for us all season.

“We know all about his quality and he will go on to bigger and better things.

“That will probably be next year, but playing at Gateshead is a good experience for him and he is a big presence in the team.”

Stalwart defender Mike Williamson missed the game due to illness but should return for Saturday’s trip to Dagenham and Redbridge.

 ??  ?? Gateshead apply pressure in their goalless draw against Havant and Waterloovi­lle. Picture: CHARLIE WAUGH
Gateshead apply pressure in their goalless draw against Havant and Waterloovi­lle. Picture: CHARLIE WAUGH

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