Weaver’s heroics put the Brakes on Heed
LATE goals have hurt Gateshead over the last four weeks - no more so than in the Midlands on Saturday.
But for a magnificent display from Leamington goalkeeper Jake Weaver the Tynesiders would have been out of sight instead of having to settle for a 1-1 draw.
The battle between the top two sides in the Vanarama National League North form table was a onesided affair.
Just as at Chester and Farsley, the home side was left to chase shadows in the first half.
Unlike those games Gateshead created a lot more chances and had plenty of efforts on goal against the Brakes.
Weaver, however, had all the answers - making terrific saves to single-handedly keep his side in the game.
Greg Olley’s 28th-minute quality strike at the second attempt had given the Heed the lead for the sixth consecutive game.
However, despite the best efforts of the impressive Jordan Preston ,Ged Garner and Jordan Hunter, Weaver remained defiant.
All three were denied by fine stops, Preston in both halves, substitutes Macaulay Langstaff and Dan Ward with late chances.
Langstaff shot past the far post and Ward was forced wide in stoppage time when in on goal without getting a shot off.
Within an instant Leamington were presented with the chance to claim the most undeserved of points.
Jake Cooper clipped Sam Osborne’s heels on theedge of the box three minutes into stoppage time.
Osborne’s free-kick over the wall was saved by Harrison Male - only for Junior English to force home the loose ball. A game in which a far superior Gateshead should have won at a canter instead saw two points dropped at the death.
Gateshead player-manager Mike Williamson said: “We played unbelievably well for 94 minutes.
“It is bitterly disappointing because we dominated the game and had enough chances to win two or three games.
“Their goalkeeper pulled off some incredible saves and it is frustrating we did not get the result the performance deserved.
“Some of our football was brilliant and everyone was gutted and sick at the way it panned out at the end.”
Gateshead, now fourth, stretched their unbeaten run to six gamesahead of a top-five home game against Kidderminster next weekend.