On-form Heed boost their play-off hopes
GATESHEAD manager Rob Elliot hailed his squad as ‘incredible’ after they boosted their National League play-off hopes with a fine win at Wealdstone.
Much has changed at both clubs since the Heed came out on top with a home win against the Stones in early October – but the flowing brand of football favoured by Elliot’s men produced the same result at Grosvenor Vale on Saturday.
There were just five minutes on the clock when on-loan Cambridge United defender Mamadou Jobe marked the news he will remain with Gateshead until the end of the season by firing his side in front.
A ruthless opening 20 minutes continued as the Heed moved out of sight with goals from winger Kieron Evans and top goalscorer Marcus Dinanga.
Tarryn Allarakhia reduced the arrears for the hosts seven minutes before half-time but Gateshead’s three-goal advantage was restored in the early stages of the second half.
Jaydn Mundle-Smith had the final say for Wealdstone when he scored his side’s second goal of the day midway through the second half but there was little they could do to prevent the Heed moving back into the top seven.
There was extra satisfaction for Elliot after he revealed his side had made the most of some attacking work in training ahead of the trip to London and produced immediate results in the final third of the pitch.
He said: “The start of the game was incredible, the lads were amazing.
“I thought the combinations of play, the movement and the most pleasing thing for me is we worked on it in training in terms of how we want to work in the final third in and around the opposition box.
“Not only did we do that successfully, we did that to the point where we got the rewards straightaway and hopefully that gives the lads more confidence in the concepts we are trying to achieve.
“I said to the boys in the last four weeks, the results we’ve got, considering how new the group is and the players we had missing today, I am just really proud of them and the way they’re taking information is incredible.
“That’s testament to the new lads, the senior boys for sticking to our principles and everyone in general.”
The Heed will hit the road once again tomorrow night when they visit Kidderminster Harriers before turning their attention towards their first league game at the International Stadium in almost three weeks when they host Oxford City on Saturday.