SOLIHULL MOORS 0 GATESHEAD 2

GATESHEAD boss Neil Aspin praised midfield powerhouse Gus Mafuta after he helped his side to victory at an in-form Solihull.

But he admitted that the former Bristol City trainee had needed a kick up the backside!

Mafuta laid on Nyall Bell for Gateshead’s 22nd minute opener and would have added his name to the scoresheet had it not been for a fine save from Moors keeper Danny Lewis midway through the second half.

It was left to substitute Sam Jones to wrap up the win in injury time with a cheeky backheel. Aspin said: “There were players out there who hadn’t played a lot of football like Gus Mafuta who did well – he’s not played a lot of football and has been waiting for his chance. “He’s come back into the team and done well. He did well in the two Barrow games and he’s followed that up again today.

“Gus is a good player with good attributes but he needs a regular kick up the backside and it’s up to me to do that. When he plays at his best he is a real powerhouse.”

Bell’s opener was the first effort on target from either side, his 15-yard drive giving Lewis no chance.

Lewis was then called on to keep out shots from Mafuta and Luke Hannant as the game wore on before the visitors wrapped up the win in injury time when Jones cheekily guided the ball past the wrong-footed keeper. Solihull manager Liam McDonald admitted the better side won. “I feel disappointed for the players,” he said. “We knew it was going to be tough but we looked a little bit tired and we didn’t do ourselves justice. “We’ve been poor and we’ve been beaten fair and square by the better team on the day.”