DROUGHT IS NOW A ROUT FOR JEKYLL & HYDE HEED

GATESHEAD ended a seven-hour goal drought in midweek with an impressive single goal win at Tranmere – and then ran in four more against Dover.

The Heed had failed to score in their last three home games and could have been behind inside ten seconds when Ricky Miller hit the post.

But against a Dover side that allowed the game to be wide open Gateshead were back to their creative best and re-found their cutting edge.

Teenager Nyal Bell led the line well on his home debut, a rejuvenated Sam Jones scored twice and, like Miller, could have had a hattrick.

Jones was denied his first Heed treble when his 65th minute penalty hit the bar, Gateshead missing a penalty for the second consecutive game at the International Stadium.

Wes York and the influential Paddy McLaughlin were the Heed's other goalscorers, Miller and Jack Parkinson on target for Dover in a pulsating game.

“After a good result at Tranmere on Tuesday this was just what we wanted,” said delighted Gateshead manager Neil Aspin. “We’ve had a lack of goals in the last few home games but today our forward play was really good and we fully deserved the win.

“We could have scored more and it was another good performance. It’s taken Jones a while to adjust to the level but this was his best game for us.

“He scored two good goals and deserved a hattrick. He was excellent and young Bell made a difference, but it was another tremendous all round team display.” Only the post denied Dover the lead from the kick-off and Miller had another chance from Mitch Pinnock’s hook into the box, which he volleyed over on the half hour. Gateshead were also lively going forward, the game exploding with two goals in a minute. First Parkinson arrowed an angled shot into the far corner from 18 yards, Mitch Walker then saving from Jones only for York to find the far corner. Jones then created half a yard in the box from McLaughlin’s low cross to swivel and find the bottom corner, the Heed ahead at the break. The fun and frolics continued after the restart. McLaughlin burst through a porous Dover defence to find the far corner with another great finish.

Ross Lafayette then put Miller in on the left of the box and he arrowed a shot across Gateshead keeper Dan Hanford.

Jones, however, restored Gateshead’s lead with a magnificent strike into the far top corner and then missed a penalty, Dover leaking nine goals in their last two away games.

The Crabble outfit had flown to the north-east, but for the second consecutive weekend had their wings clipped – Gateshead’s season now taking flight.