Weary Heed notch up first win in nine
GATESHEAD were down to the bare bones for their fourth game in eight days – but still got the job done against Eastleigh.
Goals either side of half-time from strike pair Danny Johnson and Jordan Burrow gave the Heed a 2-0 win – their first in nine games.
The entertainment value was high as both sides went for it in a game that should have produced more goals.
The sides shared 16 attempts on target and there were plenty of others that didn’t trouble the two goalkeepers.
Heed shot-stopper James Montgomery, midfield man Paddy McLaughlin and Burrow were the three players that started all four games last week.
Burrow followed up his double at former club Halifax Town on Thursday with the clincher from Theo Vassell’s 52nd minute cross.
Montgomery kept his 13th clean sheet of the season and McLaughlin, impressive in 2018, pulled the strings in midfield alongside the durable Russell Penn.
But with experienced central defenders Neill Byrne and Jamal Fyfield both out with ankle injuries it was a promising youngster that stood out.
Jon Mellish’s previous seven appearances in a Heed shirt had been as a full-back, but he played in the centre of defence while on loan at Newcastle Benfield.
That put him in good stead on Saturday when he partnered former SPL defender Fraser Kerr at the heart of the Gateshead back line.
The 20-year-old put in an assured performance beyond his tender years, drawing praise from manager Steve Watson and his team-mates.
Watson said: “They all did great and I don’t normally single players out, but you have to acknowledge how good Jon Mellish was today. He’s played as a left-sided centrehalf on loan at Newcastle Benfield and he came back a much better and more confident player.
“A lot of thanks goes to Benfield for that, but to then step up to National League level at such a young age is not easy.
“I won’t say he made it look easy but he was very comfortable. He was calm on the ball and made good decisions, apart from the Maradona spin in the centre circle!
“I couldn’t have asked for a better display from him in what was a good team performance, particularly in the circumstances.”
It will be five games in 11 days when a weary Gateshead take the field at Aldershot tomorrow – followed by a near-700-mile round trip to Dover at the weekend.
“It doesn’t get any easier,” added Watson.
“But I can’t fault the lads’ effort and commitment and the aim is to finish as high as possible.”