KIDDY CAN’T A BIG MAC
GATESHEAD laid down a marker in the title race as they blew Kidderminster away with a superb display.
The Heed scored twice in each half as they put FA Cup heroes Kidderminster to the sword and it could have been more.
The Harriers had a great chance less than three minutes in but didn’t take it, and after that Gateshead produced the complete performance.
Top scorer Macaulay Langstaff took his tally to 23 with a brace as the Tynesiders opened up an 11-point gap on Kidderminster while stretching their lead at the top to six points.
“We know the levels we can reach and the boys were exceptional against a very good Kidderminster team,” said player-manager Mike Williamson. “The lads had the bit between their teeth and it would be unfair to pick anyone out as all of them were sensational. It was also really good to see a good crowd. They make a difference as they have done all season.”
The Heed had an early scare when Amari Morgan-Smith slipped in Omari Sterling, but his strike went wide.
A Nathan Cameron foul on Owen Bailey after 17 minutes saw Greg Olley bend a shot past the wall and on to the post. That was a warning Harriers failed to heed, though Morgan-Smith flicked just wide on a break.
Langstaff was a thorn in Kidderminster’s side and he did well to find the far corner from inside the box midway through the half for the crucial opener.
The Harriers first shot on target arrived on the half hour, Sterling’s long-range effort straight at Filip Marschall.
Too many of the visitors long balls had too much on them and they fell further behind seven minutes from the break.
Cedwyn Scott twisted and turned to fire in a low cross and Luke Simpson found Olley, whose miscued shot squeezed past Simpson and Alex Penny to creep over the line.
A sublime move then saw Olley’s 55th-minute reverse ball find the far corner via the boot of Langstaff – game over.
Scott fired over when in on goal but a minute later Carlisle loanee Taylor Charters, set up by Langstaff, completed the rout with another beauty into the far corner. Scott passed up another great chance as a rampant Gateshead had to settle for four.
“I’m very disappointed, and it’s not something we expected,” said Harriers boss, and former Heed man, Russell Penn.
“We have shown vulnerabilities, which are a real cause for concern, especially with the run we’ve been on lately, we didn’t show any confidence whatsoever and got beat by the better team.”