Heed’s young guns call the Shots to bring on-field relief
ALDERSHOT 0 GATESHEAD 2
GATESHEAD put their off-field problems to one side to move up to sixth in the National League.
No matter how many setbacks are delivered, the Heed young guns come up trumps.
First senior goals for the club for Connor Thomson and substitute Cameron Salkeld sealed Aldershot’s fate.
The Shots’ run without a win at The Rec has now stretched to four months and 10 games.
The league’s lowest scorers had ended an 18-game winless run at Braintree last week, and they edged the first half yesterday.
A defiant Heed caused more problems after the break and a double blast earned them a third consecutive away win.
Gateshead have now won an impressive 10 games on the road this season, with boss Ben Clark unbeaten in his seven games in charge.
“Winning away from home and keeping a clean sheet is very pleasing,” said Clark. “I can’t praise the players enough. They are a dream to work with.
“For the first 20 minutes Aldershot were the better side, without really causing us major problems.
“In the second half, we were brilliant and each week we’re getting goal-of-the-season contenders.
“I’m really pleased for Thomson as it was a great header and also for Salkeld, who is a local Gateshead lad.
“We’ve been excellent on the road all year. It’s all down to the players and I can’t praise them enough.”
Gateshead made one enforced change with Tom Devitt making only his fourth start in place of the departed Fraser Kerr.
Not surprisingly after a sevenhour 300-mile early morning trip to Hampshire, the Heed took time to settle into the game.
Aldershot forced two early corners and huffed and puffed without being able to find a break through.
Luke Howell won possession in the Heed half and a quick counter saw Bernard Mensah’s shot tipped past the post.
Aynsley Pears then saved well from Jonny Goddard as the relegation-threatened Shots pressed.
Gateshead got into the groove after the restart and had the lead with their first effort on target.
Makeshift striker Thomson got between two defenders on the hour to head home Scott Barrow’s pinpoint cross.
Heed captain Barrow had led from the front with a man-of-thematch display and the shot-shy Shots rarely threatened a comeback. The hosts went with four strikers in a desperate attempt to salvage something, but instead Heed made the game safe late on.
Greg Olley’s corner caused problems in the Shots’ defence and Salkeld lashed the ball into the roof of the net.
ALDERSHOT TOWN: 5-3-2 Cole; Bernard, Lelan (Mcdonagh 72), Elokobi, MENAYESE, Booty; Goddard, Gallagher (Fenelon 81), Howell; Mensah, Grant (Berkeley-agyepong 81). Subs (not used): Mccoy, Finney GATESHEAD: 5-3-2: Pears; Tinkler, Devitt, Williamson, Mellish, BARROW; White, Olley (Hunter 90+2), Forbes; Thomson (Salkeld 80), Rigg. Subs (not used): Lumsden (gk), Maloney, O’donnell Goals: Thomson (63), Salkeld (85) Referee: Lloyd Wood (Essex) Attendance: 1,885