Heed’s hat-trick hero puts fear of Ged into Port
LOANEE Ged Garner blitzed a superb 10-minute hat-trick to help Gateshead blow Southport away.
The Fleetwood Town striker was too hot to handle as the Heed finally matched their impressive play with goals.
The impressive win ended Southport's unbeaten away record and took Gateshead up to ninth ahead of Tuesday's home clash with undefeated leaders Gloucester.
The omens had not been good ahead of the Southport game. Goalkeeper James Montgomery was on crutches and captain Nicky Deverdics was stretchered off in the warm-up.
Left-back George Smith then limped off before the break – but rathe than crumbling, adversity brought out the side's determination and resolve.
After Niall Watson flashed an early effort past the post, Heed debutant keeper Harrison Male was then well protected.
Influential playmaker Greg Olley, who had already fired just wide, had a golden chance to give Gateshead the lead just before the half hour.
Smith's pinpoint delivery picked out the unmarked midfielder, whose header was superbly tipped over by Dan Hanford.
A rare Port threat saw Marcus Carver head wastefully over from captain David Morgan's ball into the box.
Gateshead had enjoyed the better of a tight first half and struck just before the break.
Olley's diagonal pass saw Garner blast a left-foot rocket from one corner of the box into the opposite corner of the net.
It was a great way to open his Heed account and it didn't take long for the Merseysider to notch his next two strikes.
First, Jordan Preston picked out Garner on the left of the penalty area four minutes into the second period.
Again the Fleetwood ace's strike was powerful enough to beat former Heed man Hanford, this time at his near post.
Two soon became three as more sublime approach play opened up the Port defence.
Jordan Cook fed Danny Greenfield whose instinctive first-time pass put Garner in on goal.
The 22-year-old calmly slotted the ball past an exposed Hanford as the Heed made hay.
Mo Ali's foul on Garner then saw Alex Nicholson find the top corner from the resulting penalty.
Male made a good save from Dylan Vassallo, while Greenfield was inches away from making it five.
A clean sheet then eluded Gateshead when Sandgrounders sub Jordan Archer headed home on 89 minutes.
It couldn't take the gloss off a sparkling display from the Tynesiders against a side that had been third in the table.
GATESHEAD: Male, Griffiths, Cooper, Nicholson, Smith (O'donnell 38), Greenfield, Hunter, Olley, Preston, Cook (Dale 59), Garner (Langstaff 72). Subs not used: Cameron (gk), Aplin.
SOUTHPORT: Hanford, Challoner, Anson, Oliver, Ali (Winnard 71), Doyle, Bainbridge, Morgan, Woods (Archer 72), Carver, Watson. Subs not used: Mcmillan (gk), Newell.
Referee: Jonny Urwin (Jarrow).