Heed on form to move up to third
GATESHEAD moved up to jointthird in National League North after they maintained their 100% home record in the league with a 2-0 victory over York City.
Cedwyn Scott scored from the spot near the end of the first half and then sub Luke Williams doubled the lead seven minutes from time.
The Heed’s injury problems, however, are mounting up as they continue their promotion push at Farsley Celtic at the weekend.
York’s best chance of an opening half dominated by Gateshead came with just over a minute on the clock.
Kurt Willoughby was slid in by Adam Senior but his shot from a tight angle was dealt with by Jacob Chapman at his near post.
Gateshead then should really have taken the lead nine minutes later.
Scott’s shot was blocked by City keeper Peter Jameson with Paul Blackett’s two follow up efforts both blocked by defender Matty Brown near the line.
Already without defensive pair Mike Williamson and Alex Nicholson, the Heed lost another 18 minutes in when former Minsterman Robbie Tinkler hobbled off.
Midfield man Jack Hunter, employed as an emergency centre-half, then headed just wide, before Greg Olley curled a freekick over wall and bar.
Blackett headed over when unmarked from Dan Ward’s cross when he should have done better as Gateshead continued to dictate.
When the breakthrough finally came it was from the penalty spot. Good play from Scott drew a foul from Senior inside the box and Scott found the bottom corner from the spot to move into double figures for the season.
Gateshead needed a second goal to give them a cushion, but they had to be patient.
Olley shot wide on the turn from the edge of the box after the break, Blackett with another chance in the box that he stabbed wide.
That was the forward’s last involvement as he was replaced by leading scorer Macaulay Langstaff midway through the second half.
Langstaff immediately had a shot deflected past the near post, Ward twice suffering the same fate minutes later.
Willoughby fired just past the far post for York before Scott limped off with 20 minutes to play with former Middlesbrough man Luke Williams deputising.
Williams then curled over from 22-yards as the game remained in the balance.
Langstaff headed straight at Jameson with 10 minutes remaining and Willoughby shot wide from a great opening from Clayton Donaldson’s half cleared long throw into the box.
Within a minute Gateshead made the game safe, Williams finding the top corner on 83 minutes after taking Wombwell’s square ball.
It was the former Middlesbrough attacker’s first goal for the club as Gateshead bounced back from their FA Cup defeat against Charlton.