Molyneux is impressive – as Heed end their hoodoo
GATESHEAD 2 BROMLEY 0
GATESHEAD produced a strong display on their return to the International Stadium to brush aside Bromley – only the second time they had come out on top in 10 meetings with the Kent outfit.
Steve Watson’s men also avenged an FA Trophy semi-final defeat at the hands of the Ravens last season.
Bromley were lucky to escape with a two-goal defeat as Heed front men Steven Rigg and Luke Armstrong were both denied by the woodwork.
Gateshead bossed the game, Sunderland loanee Luke Molyneux prominent and contributing the assists for both goals.
Both came from flag kicks, Armstrong scoring his eighth of the campaign and defender Fraser Kerr adding the second.
Their 12th win in the league saw Gateshead reach the halfway point of the season seventh and in the final play-off spot.
“It was a confident and very good performance from the lads - almost a complete one,” said Heed boss Watson. “We dominated from start to finish and while we took too many chances near the end it was an accomplished display.
“The two front men gave their centre-halves a really tough afternoon, and it was two welcome goals from set-plays. It was great deliveries for the two goal and Molyneux has really come into his own in the last month.
“It’s difficult to pick anybody out as everyone played their part in a really good home performance and clean sheet. It’s been a good first half of the season and we’re hopeful we can only get better and stronger as a team.”
A tame Jack Barham header straight at Aynsley Pears was Bromley’s sole first-half effort.
They had the lead on 16 minutes, Boro loanee Armstrong looping the ball over Ravens’ keeper David Gregory from Molyneux’s corner.
Molyneux was on the majority of the set-plays with Greg Olley suspended, adding a new dimension to his Heed career.
Causing problems in the hole between the midfield and attack, it was the 20-year-old who pulled the strings in Olley’s absence.
The recalled Jack Hunter and Tom White also had good games in the Heed engine room.
Steven Rigg and Armstrong were a handful for the Ravens’ defence and the former crashed an angled drive against the bar.
Scott Barrow almost added a second two minutes into the second period with a deflected shot that flew inches wide. Five minutes later it was two, Kerr volleying home another Molyneux corner with a smart finish.
Jack Holland hit the post as Bromley briefly threatened, but it wasn’t long before normal service was resumed. Gregory saved well from White then Armstrong, also set up by Hunter, hit the far post at the death as an impressive Gateshead eased home. GATESHEAD: 3-5-2 Pears; Tinkler, Kerr, Williamson, Mellish, Barrow; White, MOLYNEUX, Hunter; Armstrong, Rigg. NOT USED: Foden (gk), Thomson, O’donnell, Boden, Forbes GOALS: Armstrong (16), Kerr (52) BROMLEY: 4-2-3-1 Gregory; Brindley, Johnson, Holland, Wood; Sutherland, Okoye (Raymond 46); Barham (MEKKI 69) Hines, Coulson (Porter 55); Hooper. NOT USED: Goodman, Ogedi-uzokwe REFEREE: Joe Hull (Cheshire) ATTENDANCE: 680