Bromley win sees Heed halfway there
GATESHEAD’S half-term report makes good reading for those of a black-and-white persuasion.
A goal in each half from on-loan Boro striker Luke Armstrong and defender Fraser Kerr earned a 2-0 victory over Bromley.
The Ravens were lucky to escape with that flattering margin of defeat as the Heed also hit the woodwork in each half.
It was the 23rd game of a 46-fixture Vanarama National League campaign and Gateshead are sitting pretty at the halfway stage.
Steve Watson continues to impress in his first senior managerial role, Gateshead seventh going into the hectic festive period.
The Tynesiders occupy the final play-off berth and Watson hopes to maintain the promotion push in the second half of the season.
Watson said: “It was a really good performance, almost a complete one and we have done unbelievably well in the first half of the season.
“We need to keep getting better. If we do that and pick up more points than we have in the first half there is a good chance we will reach our goal.
“Every game which comes and every time you come back on a Saturday you see the results and we are still in a play-off position. It will become a reality, hopefully, but there is so much hard work to do between now and then.” Gateshead have another four games, one of them at Salford in the FA Trophy, before they head for Hartlepool on New Year’s day. Saturday’s win - only their second in 10 attempts against Bromley - was their 12th in the league as the Heed keep the promotion flame burning.
Both goals came from on-loan Sunderland schemer Luke Molyneux corners, Armstrong’s eighth in 16 games with the 16th-minute opener.
Strike partner Steven Rigg then fired an angled shot against the bar before Kerr volleyed home Molyneux’s 52nd minute flag kick.
Jack Holland hit a Heed post in a rare Bromley threat before Armstrong raced clear at the death, only for his angled shot to strike the far post.
Goalscorer Kerr hailed a top Gateshead display: “It was a brilliant performance from back to front and we controlled the game throughout.
“We looked organised and they rarely troubled us.
“Luke Molyneux’s delivery for the goals were top-class and I was delighted to score.”
Gateshead will have playmaker Greg Olley back from suspension for Saturday’s trip to big-spending Salford City in the FA Trophy.