GATESHEAD 3 ALDERSHOT 0 Heed calling Shots in battle for promotion
GATESHEAD’S impressive form continued as they swept aside Aldershot Town at a blustery International Stadium.
It was a sixth win from their last seven games for the Heed and a fourth consecutive clean sheet.
Superb stats, and Steve Watson’s side remain in the play-off mix ahead of two six-pointers on the road this week.
The Tynesiders face tough trips to AFC Fylde and Wrexham but will do so with real belief and momentum.
Watson has established a solid unit at Gateshead, one that works hard with or without the ball, and is hard to beat.
They have one of the best defences in the league and know where the net is at the other end.
The Shots, themselves on a good run, fired blanks after a closely fought opening quarter of the game.
In the second half they were rendered impotent, a welldrilled Gateshead two up by the break.
T a l e n t e d s c h e m e r Greg Olley fired the 2 0 t h - minute opener past former Hull City team-mate Will Mannion in The Shots’ goal.
Scott Boden had been the creator and the striker doubled the lead just past the half-hour mark.
Midfield man Tom White’s second goal for the club then sealed a comfortable win with 13 minutes left on the clock.
“The game plan worked really well and the shape looked solid,” said delighted Gateshead manager Watson.
“Everyone put a real shift in and the last two home games have given us a lot of encouragement.
“The midfield worked their socks off. The mileage they cover on the pitch should not go unnoticed and Olley made good runs all afternoon.
“We scored two good goals in the first half. The third goal, which was a really good football goal, was always going to be really important. “We now have two massive away games and then a very important FA Cup game coming up and we will need everyone to be fit, fresh and confident.” Boro loanee Aynsley
Pears continues to Gateshead manager Steve Watson was left delighted be a rock in the Heed goal and made an important reaction save from Scott Rendell with the game goalless.
Olley then exploited space in the right channel after good play from Boden to power into The Shots’ box.
Reading loanee Gab Osho blocked his first attempt, but former Magpies’ trainee Olley made no mistake with his second attempt.
One became two after Scott Barrow’s shot following his own corner was blocked, only for the alert Boden to find the net.
A limp Aldershot never threatened a comeback, although Pears had to save at full stretch from Jake Gallagher just before the break.
Olley fizzed a free-kick past the post after an uneventful opening to the second half before the midfielder had a hand in the Heed’s third.
His ball into Luke Armstrong saw the substitute’s back-heel driven into the bottom corner by White to put the icing on the cake.