HEED BATTLE BACK AND RUIN STU’S CENTENARY

Elliott 71, Campbell 83

A CLASH between unlikely promotion pushers Wealdstone and relegation battlers Gateshead saw the struggling visitors come from behind to triumph to bolster their chances of survival.

Stones’ boss Stuart Maynard and his assistant Matt Saunders were celebrating their 100th match in charge of the club, but a determined Heed side managed to dampen the celebrations.

A first half goal from Max Kretzschmar was cancelled out by Danny Elliott, before substitute Adam Campbell notched a late winner for the Tynesiders.

“It’s disappointing to lose, but it’s very difficult to combat not playing and barely training for three weeks,” Saunders said.

“As a part-time team, we have to overcome an incredible number of challenges during the season, but it’s impossible to have that long off, and then expect human beings to perform to their maximum.

“We can’t fault the lads’ effort and commitment, but in the end that game becomes a sacrificial game, in that we needed to get it out the way, to come through the other side.”

Gateshead crafted the first chance of the match within four minutes of play when a fiercely struck shot from Kamil Conteh was parried by Sam Howes into the path of Greg Olley, but the skipper blazed his effort just over the bar from close range.

The Heed went close again close on 16 minutes when Conteh hit a sweet shot from 25 yards out which narrowly flew over.

Howes needed to be alert again on 22 minutes when the lively Elliott found space in the box and rifled a shot towards goal, which needed to be tipped clear.

A minute later, it was Howes to the rescue again as he reacted with a vital save to deny Lewis Knight one-on-one.

Ten minutes before halftime, Elliott had the ball in the back of the net, with only the assistant referee’s offside flag denied the striker bagging his opener.

Against the run of play, the Stones finally broke the deadlock in the 38th minute when Kretzschmar profited from a goalmouth scramble, poking the ball home to send his team into the lead.

Gateshead started the second half with similar vigour to the first and went close on 52 minutes when another melee in the penalty area resulted Charlie Barker clearing off his goal line.

But the Heed were finally rewarded for their tenacity on 72 minutes when dangerman Elliott converted from close-range to level.

Six minutes later, substitute Aaron Martin rose highest to power a header toward the top corner but Howes was on hand to thwart the effort with a brilliant save.

But he could do nothing to prevent Campbell netting the winner with seven minutes to go to hand his side a massive three points.