DRY GOAL RUN LEAVES ASPIN HEED SCRATCHING
GATESHEAD 0 TORQUAY U 0
SHOT-SHY Gateshead fired blanks for the fourth game in a row, their wait for a goal now stretching to more than six hours.
It was an afternoon to forget for striker Danny Johnson – without a goal in eight games – who had a 63rd-minute penalty saved.
A frustrated Johnson was then sent off six minutes later along with Torquay defender Ben Gerring, the Gulls almost nicking it at the death.
Sean McGinty’s injury-time header thudded against the post and then substitute Brett Williams contrived to head the rebound wide.
It was a second slice of luck for Gateshead as their earlier penalty appeared fortuitous, both sides defending well to ensure a stalemate.
Gateshead's lack of firepower is proving costly, while the Gulls put in a committed performance on their longest trip of the season.
A draw was a fair outcome, though both sides could have won it, the Heed desperately in need of a spark as they tumble down the table.
“We’ve gone from scoring 20 goals pretty early in the season to a spell where we’re not scoring goals,” said manager Neil Aspin.
“Hard work is the key as there is no magic wand, but if the players can’t produce goals then I’ll have to look at bringing people in who can.
“We passed the ball well, particularly in the first half, but again lacked a cutting edge and it’s frustrating for everyone. We were presented with a great opportunity with the penalty, but didn’t take it, and that was compounded by the red card.” Most of the shots at goal in the first half were from outside the box, Sam Jones not far wide with a free-kick and Courtney Richards’s dipping effort close for the Gulls. Luke Young’s closerange stab was blocked by Heed captain Liam Nogan, while Johnson had a header cleared off the line at the other end. Nathan Blissett was penalised for a handball in the box that baffled everyone, and Brendan Moore came to the rescue with a sharp save diving to his left. Gerring’s robust challenge on Johnson then saw both players sent off, and Wes York and Paddy McLaughlin both fired wide before Torquay almost increased Gateshead's problems. Dan Hanford saved well from Young’s free-kick arrowed towards the bottom corner, before McGinty and Wiliams did all but score in stoppage-time. “A couple of big decisions went against us, but I’ll have to see the DVD,” said Gulls boss Kevin Nicholson. “Gerring’s looked like an old-fashioned challenge where he took the ball and the man. Old-fashioned, however, doesn’t get you very far. We were very hardworking today, we’ll take the clean sheet and could have nicked it at the end."