Early errors see Heed slip to a rare away defeat
WOKING 2 GATESHEAD 1
HAVING secured their Vanarama National League status in midweek, Gateshead started the final week of their league campaign disastrously at fourth-top Woking.
A goalkeeping gaffe from Aston Villa loanee Filip Marschall gifted Rhys Browne a third-minute opener and then Browne doubled his tally on the day from the spot eight minutes later.
Gateshead were back in it through Adam Campbell’s deflected strike midway through the second half and bossed the final half hour but Woking held on to increase their chances of finishing third.
The Heed deserved something from the game and they now move on to another play-off side, Boreham Wood, on Tuesday for their penultimate game.
Lirak Hasani started in midfield following his return from a lengthy loan spell at Boston United with Robbie Tinkler, Dan Ward and Kamil Conteh benched as part of a rotation policy.
FA Trophy finalists Gateshead pressed the self-destruct button less than three minutes into the game.
Marschall made a mess of dealing with the game’s first corner, allowing Browne to nod home from near the line.
If that wasn’t enough, one defensive howler became two when Hasani needlessly tripped Solomon Nwabuokei when the midfielder was heading away from goal.
Browne duly dispatched his second gift of the game with just 11 minutes on the clock.
Gateshead were left with a mountain to climb but their away record in 2023 was imperious. They gradually gained a foothold in the game and were then the better side after the break.
James Kellermann – lucky not to be sent off for a bad challenge on Greg Olley, his 13th yellow of the campaign – fizzed an effort just wide as the Cards sensed blood. Browne headed over a Padraig Amond cross at the back post, Louis Storey was then booked for a foul on 700-game striker Amond.
Kacper Lopato was then wide from the edge of the box, Stephen Wearne finally forcing Woking keeper Will Jasskelainen into a save seven minutes from half-time.
Callum Whelan then fired wide of the far post, fellow loanee Ed Francis curling over after the restart.
It was then game-on when Whelan’s crossfield ball saw Wearne find Campbell, whose 64th minute shot took a deflection on its way into the net.
Gateshead’s play was now impressive, causing the Cards to defend deeper than they would have liked and causing problems out wide.
Wearne cut inside only to see his shot deflected for a corner as the Heed profited from space in the middle of the park.
Francis’ free kick was dealt with by Jasskelainen as Gateshead pressed for an equaliser.
James Daly’s shot cleared the bar at the other end and Charlie O’connell had a shot blocked as Woking looked to restore their two-goal cushion.
The home side had to play out the final 15 minutes with ten men after Daly was concussed when all three subs had been used.
Tynesiders vice-captain Owen Bailey twice came close to rescuing a merited point in the dying stages.
Wearne’s shot was parried but Bailey had little time to adjust and his shot cleared the bar.
Wearne’s cross then picked out Bailey,
whose header was turned around the post by Jasskelainen.
It was a case of what might have been for Gateshead, who suffered only their second defeat from their last 13 away games, both by a single goal margin.
WOKING: Jasskelainen; Moss,
Cuthbert, Lopata (Mcnerney 73),
Casey; Kellermann (O’connell 46), Ince, Nwabuokei; Browne (Wakefield 65), Amond, Daley
Subs (not used): Wilkinson, Dackers
GATESHEAD: Marschall; Bailey, Storey, Pye; Wearne, Whelan, Francis, Hasani; Olley, Dinanga (Harris 84), Campbell (Conteh 84)
Subs (not used): Montgomery (GK), Tinkler, Ward
Referee: Dean Watson (Rochdale)
Attendance: 3,519