Heed’s defeat is set in Stone as they fail to convert their chances
GATESHEAD continue to learn a harsh lesson on their return to the top flight of non-league football Mike Williamson’s men still without a win five games into the new season.
They battered new Vanarama National League leaders Wealdstone in the second half but were unable to claw back the Stones’ one-goal advantage secured on the stroke of half-time.
An attempts on goal count of 16-3 and corner count of 10-0 in the Heed’s favour counted for nothing as Wealdstone produced a classic smash-and-grab raid on Tyneside.
A second consecutive one-goal margin of defeat was harsh on the Heed, a daunting trip to cash-rich Wrexham on Tuesday a formidable one for Williamson’s charges.
Paul Blackett twice hit the woodwork inside a minute early in the second half and other chances came and went on another frustrating day at the International Stadium.
A superb period of keep-ball on the stroke of half-time ended disastrously when Tynesiders’ captain Greg Olley’s misplaced pass in midfield led to the only goal
Wealdstone were then reduced to ten men early in the second half but Gateshead were unable to make the extra man count.
It left the Conference North champions with just three points from their opening five games - and assistant manager Ian Watson frustrated.
He said: “We dominated the game and Wealdstone but we were not good enough in the first half.
“We were actually on top when they scored and we then had a reaction in the second half, but we just could not put the ball in the back of the net.
“We need to be more clinical in front of goal and to find answers because we cannot keep having all the possession and shots on goal but coming away with no points.
“It was unlucky we hit post and bar in quick succession but we should be converting those chances with the finishers we have at the club.
“We don’t want to be coming in and saying we are unlucky - at the end of the day it is having conviction in what you are doing.
“Wealdstone came and sat in. They managed to catch us on the counter- attack and we have not taken our chances, so we did not deserve to win the game and we have a lot of work to do.”
Gateshead had never beaten Wealdstone in the six meetings between the two clubs and the first
GATESHEAD WEALDSTONE
meeting for 35 years again went the Stones’ way.
The Middlesex outfit took one of the two chances which came their way, Tarryn Allarakhia denied by Dan Langley’s leg early on after he was put in by Dom Hutchinson.
An injury-hit Gateshead took until 11 minutes before the break to trouble Wealdstone, Tom Allan homing in on goal before he was undone by Ayode Elerewe’s challenge, Adam Campbell then denied by Stones’ goalkeeper Sam Howes at his near post.
However, when Olley’s radar went haywire on halfway Browne ghosted past Heed centre-backs Carl Magnay and Kenton Richardson to nudge the ball past an exposed Langley.
Gateshead’s performance after the break deserved reward but none was forthcoming as they failed to find the net for the first time this season though not for the want of trying.
Robbie Tinkler’s deflected cross looped up for Blackett to head against the angle of bar and post, the striker then slipped in by Olley only to guide a shot on the stretch against the inside of the far post.
Olley then sent Blackett galloping on goal only for the striker to be pulled back by Elerewe, Middlesbrough referee Matt Dicicco brandishing a red card.
Campbell’s shot was then spilled by Howes, his follow-up challenge on the Stones goalkeeper sparking a melee, Dan Ward’s drive then saved by a sprawling Howes. It was one-way traffic towards the visitors goal, Campbell’s 22-yard deflected drive tipped over, substitute Will Harris twice going close with headers in front of goal - both clearing the bar.
The Stones’ goal led a charmed life and there were two further chances for the Heed to salvage something in stoppage time.
Half-time subsitute and impressive debutant Owen Gallacher, on loan from Crawley Town, saw his cross headed just wide by Blackett.
The final acts of a frustrating afternoon then saw Howes make a diving save from Owen Bailey’s edge of the box strike. Bailey then had a golden opportunity to snatch a point at the death but miscued when well-placed.
GATESHEAD: Langley, Tinkler, Magnay, Richardson, Pye (Gallacher 46), Olley, Bailey, Ward, Campbell, Blackett, Allan (Harris 65). Subs not used: Montgomery, Williamson.
WEALDSTONE: Howes, Barrett (Sesay 20), Cook, Elerewe, Habergham, Ferguson, Charles, Kretzschmar (Napa 90+3), Allarakhia (Kinsella 46), Browne, Hutchinson. Subs not used: Dyer, Mongoy. Attendance: 1,104.
We cannot keep
having all the possession and shots on goal but coming away with
no points
Heed’s Ian Watson