Fourth loss in a row as Heed fire blanks
GOALS win matches and Gateshead are not scoring enough of them – just 18 in 16 league games.
Saturday’s narrow 1-0 defeat at King’s Lynn was a fourth defeat on the spin, the last three without scoring.
The Heed got away with a lack of firepower earlier in the season when they regularly kept clean sheets.
Mike Williamson’s men, however, have managed only one shut-out in the last six games.
Player-manager Williamson returned to the side at the weekend after a fivegame absence.
Just as against Oldham in the FA Cup, the Heed played well but had nothing to show for their efforts.
Williamson said: “It is not good enough, and I am getting sick of opposing managers telling me we have been the best team.
“We did dominate the first half as well as large parts of the second half and we had the better chances.
“The lads left everything out there but we are just not finishing the job – that is the frustrating part.
“If you break down the game there were lots of positives but we have to find a way.
“We are not far off and all we can do is return to the training ground and work harder.”
The difference between the two sides was prolific goalscorer Adam Marriott and Lynn goalkeeper Alex Street.
Marriott, the league’s leading marksman, struck his 22nd goal of the campaign on 73 minutes.
It was enough to give the table-topping Linnets, unbeaten at home, all three points in a hard-fought game.
The Norfolk outfit were also indebted to goalkeeper Street, who made a string of important stops.
Josh Kayode in particular had chances to give Gateshead the lead, while JJ O’Donnell and Dom Tear also went close.
The Heed will now look to arrest their slide at out of form and managerless Kidderminster Harriers tomorrow.