Heed so close to putting out Dragons’ fire
GATESHEAD 1 WREXHAM 1
GATESHEAD were denied a famous victory against leaders Wrexham by a goal three minutes into injury time.
The title-chasing Dragons looked to have been slayed when substitute Cole Stockton forced a 93rd-minute equaliser.
Play-off hopefuls Gateshead appeared to have seen the game out but instead are still looking for their first home win of 2019.
Steven Rigg had gone four months without a goal until he struck two in last week’s excellent win at Dagenham.
Like London buses another arrived against Wrexham, his ninth of the campaign, but it wasn’t enough to bring another win.
Ben Clark remains unbeaten since he took over as manager – four draws and two wins – but rued the costly late sting in the tail.
“It felt like a defeat and there’s a little bit of mixed emotions,” said Clark.
“I’m really proud of my team, to a man they were outstanding.
“But when you get to the 93rd minute, you should see the game out.
The lads are really disappointed – and rightly so.
“We were excellent for the first half an hour. We limited Wrexham to not many chances and went ahead with a great goal from Rigg.
“It was a top-class centreforward performance from him. We then had to defend in the second half and did that really well.
“Pears didn’t have a save to make and it was a sucker-punch that we conceded so late in the game.
“I was really pleased with the performance. The players are down and disappointed, but it’s gone now, and we go again at Aldershot.”
Wrexham had clocked up 1,000 miles in a week of three away games, winning the first two, and they were pinned back for 25 minutes.
A confident Gateshead dictated play and took the game to the Welsh outfit with Robbie Tinkler and Scott Barrow going close.
Greg Olley had a shot blocked in the box and Connor Thomson fired wide of the far post as the Heed asked questions.
Wrexham had the joint-best defensive record in the National League and they were able to ride out the storm.
The Dragons then had a 15-minute spell and only a lastditch Tinkler challenge saved the day on the half-hour.
Mike Willamson sliced a Paul Rutherford cross over his own bar before the Heed broke through on 40 minutes.
Olley found Rigg, whose initial shot was saved and when the ball looped into the air he made no mistake with his head.
Neither side created anything of note after the restart before Wrexham turned the screw in the final 20 minutes.
Rutherford’s angled lob cleared both Heed keeper Aynsley Pears and the bar and Brad W alker was inches wide from 22 yards.
Gateshead were defending deep and when a cross glanced off Jon Mellish’s head it took another Tinkler goal-saving tackle to save the day.
Fraser Kerr’s block then denied Chris Holroyd in stoppage time – only for fellow sub Stockton to score at the second attempt after hitting the post. GATESHEAD: 5-3-2: Pears 7; TINKLER 8, Kerr 7, Williamson 8, Mellish 8, Barrow 7; White 7, Olley 7 (Hunter 81 6), Forbes 6; Thomson 7 (Salkeld 85 6), Rigg 8 Subs: (not used) Foden (gk), Devitt, Maloney Goal: Rigg (40) WREXHAM: 4-2-3-1 Dibble 6; Carrington 7 (Holroyd 78 6), Lawlor 7, Kennedy 7, JENNINGS 8; Walker 6, Young 7; Rutherford 6, Wright 6 (Deverdics 69 6), Tollitt 7 (Stockton 78 7), Oswell 6 Subs: (not used) Simpson (gk), Tharme Goal: Cole (90+3) Referee: Paul Howard (London) Attendance: 1,228