Boss frustrated as Heed let two-goal lead slip
GATESHEAD had to settle for a point against Brackley – despite being twoup after 85 minutes.
Late goals from Saints’ strike duo Tre Mitford and Lee Ndlovu provided an unwanted sting in the tail.
And with the Heed rocking, Brackley almost nicked a win when Jake Cooper headed against his own post.
But Gateshead could, and perhaps should, have won an absorbing game with the last kick of the game.
George Smith’s superb whipped in delivery just evaded the outstretched boot of substitute Jordan Preston.
Any connection would have claimed a second home win but instead the Heed were left pondering one that got away.
“At 86 minutes being 2-0 up you expect to take the three points,” said Gateshead player-manager Mike Williamson.
“The lads are devastated at getting only a point, but it’s the whole performance we’ve got to look at.
“For 85 minutes we dealt with a load of balls into our box against a big physical team good at set plays.
“But ultimately we kept turning over possession and they have ended up breaching our defence.
“We played well in the opening 45 minutes, dominated possession and then scored a very good second goal.
“It’s just a collection of small decisions that changed the flow of the game.”
It was a much better display from Gateshead than in the midweek win over Curzon Ashton – and it needed to be.
Brackley have reached the play-offs
for the last three years and were knocked out on penalties by Gateshead in July.
A tight first-half saw few clear openings, the Heed switching to a four-man defence with Fleetwood loanee Ged Garner handed a first start.
Mitford had two half chances before Gateshead broke through with their first threat on goal on 19 minutes.
Olley’s pass saw Garner’s attempt at goal cannon off Macaulay Langstaff and into the bottom corner of the net.
Ndlovu thundered a header from
Glenn Walker’s cross against the underside of the bar as the Saints hit back.
But when Ellis Myles’ run out of defence was halted on half way, Gateshead countered to double their lead.
Olley began and ended the move, side-footing home Nicky Deerdics’ square ball into the heart of the box.
Olley then came to the Heed’s rescue when he headed Gareth Dean’s header off the line.
But Mitford lashed into the roof of
the net to halve the deficit, and then Ndlovu headed home Ethan Coleman’s cross.
Both sides then almost win it but had to settle for a share of the spoils.
“There aren’t many words to really sum the emotion up,” concluded a frustrated Williamson.