STONES FLATTEN HEED’S CHANCES

GATESHEAD 1 MAIDSTONE Burrow 26 2 Hogan (og) 73, Taylor 76

TWO goals in three second half minutes should ensure that these two sides face each other again next season.

Gateshead were unconvincing leaders through Jordan Burrow’s fortuitous 26th minute goal when the Stones turned the tables.

The introduction of Bobby-Joe Taylor gave the Kent outfit fresh impetus, Liam Hogan’s 73rd minute own goal levelling the scores.

Taylor then made the most of time and space on the right side of the box to fire across the Heed’s replacement keeper Dan Hanford.

The victory stretched Maidstone’s unbeaten run to nine games, Gateshead with one win in six surely now out of the promotion picture.

“I’m as disappointed today as I have been at any point in the season,” said Gateshead manager Neil Aspin.

“If you go down by playing well and by putting in a lot of fight then you sometimes hold your hands up, but we were very poor.

“We’re going to be in for a difficult end to the season if we play like that.”

The Tynesiders had been second best as a lively Maidstone opened brightly and were the livelier outfit.

When Gateshead’s opener came it was against the run of play and it arrived in bizarre fashion, Maidstone behind for the fifth consecutive game.

The Stones should have dealt with Paddy McLaughlin’s cross into the box but keeper Lee Worgan and Tom Mills had a communication breakdown.

Mills’ clearance subsequently ricocheted off Heed striker Burrow and into a vacant net.

Former Tynesider Yemi Odubade's cross was turned into his own net by Hogan, despite the best efforts of Heed keeper James Montgomery before Taylor then clinched victory

“It was a good win and it was a decent performance,” said Saunders. “We responded so well to going behind again.”