Heed pegged back from two-up but start

GATESHEAD marked their return to the Vanarama National League after a three-year absence with an opening day draw at Dagenham & Redbridge.

National League North champions Gateshead hit the Daggers with two early goals from Paul Blackett and Adam Campbell.

Paul Mccallum had a penalty saved by James Montgomery before the striker reduced the deficit just before the break.

Gateshead were less of an attacking threat in the second period but restricted Dagenham to very little – until they were pegged back four minutes into injury time.

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The Tynesiders got off to a flyer at Victoria Road when Dan Ward got in and rounded Daggers keeper Elliot Justham.

The midfield man then set up a tapin for Blackett, who made no mistake to give the Heed a sixth-minute lead.

Gateshead were in again when Adam Campbell this time skipped past Justham, but Ward’s shot into the arms of the Daggers keeper.

The Tynesiders were ripping into Dagenham’s back three, as their third man runners caused all sorts of problems.

Campbell had scored his first goal in the Football League for Notts County at Dagenham and the former Magpie doubled Gateshead’s lead on 12 minutes.

Campbell capitalised on errors in the home defence to go past Justham and put the Heed in dreamland in the capital.

It was a blistering start from Williamson’s men on their return to the top table of non-league football on a pristine surface.

They were given a scare on 24 minutes when Josh Walker was judged to have been impeded inside the box following a clever back heel from Mccallum.

Mccallum’s weak penalty was comfortably saved by James Montgomery on his first outing for over a year.

Heed captain Greg Olley passed up a great chance to make it three when put in one-on-one by Campbell, as Justham made a crucial save.

It had been an excellent opening half hour for the Heed, but they had to regroup when left-back Ethan Pye limped off with a leg injury.

Another summer signing, Kenton