Super display as Heed trounce Harriers 4-0
GATESHEAD KIDDERMINSTER HARRIERS
GATESHEAD blew away title rivals Kidderminster in a superb display that brought tw o goals in each half to open up a six-point lead at the top of Vanarama National League North.
It also created a gap of 11 points between the Heed and third-top Kidderminster, though the two sides below them have both played two games fewer.
Mike Williamson’s men survived an early scare when Omari Sterling shot wide of the far post, but never looked back after top scorer Macaulay Langstaff opened the scoring midway through the first half.
Langstaff got another after the break to move on to 23 goals, inspirational skipper Greg Olley and Carlisle loanee Taylor Charters, who did well at leftback, with the other goals.
It was a clash between the top two scorers in the division but the Harriers fired blanks as a free-scoring Gateshead took their goals tally to an impressive 84 in league and cup this season.
Player-manager Williamson said: “We knew how difficult it was going to be against a very good Kidderminster side, but the boys were exceptional.
“We defend from the front and attack from the back.
“It was a real team performance and you can’t pick anyone out as they were all sensational.
“It was a diligent display and our back four had to be very good against a very good front line.
“The lads really had the bit between their teeth and it was also really good to see a good crowd.
“They thoroughly enjoyed the game and the performance, and they make
a difference, as they have done all season,with the noise they make.”
Kidderminster had a great chance to get off to a flyer when an Olley ball was cut out and Amari Morgan-smith slipped in Omari Sterling – only for the wide man to shoot unconvincingly past the far post.
Livewire Langstaff cut inside to fire over the bar and then a foul on Owen Bailey saw Olley’s free kick cannon back off the post.
The importance of the game only served to galvanise the Heed and they opened the scoring midway through the half.
Langstaff got on the end of Louis Storey’s ball into the box, stumbled but then regained his composure to arrow a low shot into the far corner.
That increased the already loud decibels in the Tyne & Wear Stand and it was two, seven minutes from halftime.
Cedwyn Scott did brilliantly to twist and turn near the byline to create half a yard, his driven cross striking Harriers keeper Luke Simpson’s outstretched leg and diverting the ball into the path of Olley.
The midfielder’s finish was unconvincing but it managed to bobble over the line despite the efforts of Simpson and right-back Alex Penny.
Gateshead hadn’t threatened after the restart until they produced a sublime move ten minutes in that involved the industrious Adam Campbell.
Olley’s clever reverse ball found Langstaff who duly drilled a fine effort into the far top corner to put the game well beyond a Harriers side that struggled to live with their table-topping hosts.
Scott ran himself into the ground but passed up two golden chances to get on the scoresheet on a pitch that deteroriated as the game wore on.
Latching on to a poor back-pass the frontman blazed over the bar when in on goal and then volleyed over from close range from Langstaff’s inviting cross.
Gateshead continued to press to the end, keeping up their impressive intensity and getting a deserved clean sheet for their efforts.
They now have 12 games left to clinch top spot and promotion back to the National League – Williamson not counting his chickens.
“We know we have got a really tough run-in, so we’ll just take it game by game.
“I wouldn’t know about the games and the points, our only focus is on Gloucester next Saturday.”
Gateshead: Marschall, Tinkler, Magnay, Storey, Charters; Bailey; Ward (Hunter 64), Olley; Campbell; Langstaff (Malley 77), Scott . Subs (not used): Greenfield, Jacob, Nicholson
Kidderminster Harriers: Simpson; Penny, Cameron (Martin 46), Bajrami, Richards; Hemmings, Montrose (Freemantle 64), Carrington; Austin (Lowe 71), Morgan-smith, Sterling. Subs not used: White, Redmond