TAKE HEED! FANTASTIC UGWU JUST TOO GOOD

GOZIE UGWU was the hat-trick hero as Woking claimed a morale-boosting victory – and ended Gateshead’s nine-game unbeaten run.

The lanky youngster produced a brilliant blend of skill and fierce determination in his lone striker role and the Heed defence simply could not control him.

The Cards should have been out of sight by half time – but while Gateshead had more of the play after the interval, they managed only one real chance when Brandon Hall made a fine save to deny Danny Johnson.

The only worry for Woking was seeing playmaker Kieran Murtagh limp off at hal- time with a hamstring injury that could keep him out of the big FA Cup tie at home to Accrington Stanley next Sunday.

Delighted Woking manager Garry Hill said: “We knew it was going to be tough. They’ve had some excellent results recently, especially a 5-0 win in their last away game at Dagenham.

“It’s a very important period for us with a run of four out of five league games at home, and we also needed a good reaction after a poor midweek performance at Dover.

“I was delighted for Gozie getting a great hattrick. He’s a player in a terrific vein of form at the moment.”

That form was clearly shown in the seventh minute when wing-back Jake Caprice made a superb run down the right and hit an accurate cross, which Ugwu met with a brilliant diving header inside the near post. Woking continued to pile on the pressure and only a fine save from Dan Hanford tipped a fierce Ugwu drive over the bar. Gateshead failed to make the most of several corners, but their best chance came when Sam Jones blocked an intended clearance and Johnson saw his angled shot flick away off the far post. Woking began the second half slowly, but they were given the present of a second goal just before the hour. Hanford made a mess of trying to clear a longball, and though he managed to block an effort from Fabio Saraiva the ball ran loose to Ugwu who stroked it back into the net. Again Woking were pushed back, but the game was really all over after 72 minutes when Paddy McLaughlin allowed a long-ball to bounce and Ugwu stole in to chip it cleverly over the stranded goalkeeper. Disappointed Gateshead manager Neil Aspin said: “The big difference between the two teams today was their centre-forward who had an outstanding match. “We’ve had a good run, but we were second best today and we’ve got to get our game back in shape quickly.”