Heed are so close to claiming league title
GATESHEAD are on the brink of promotion and could be crowned Vanarama National League North champions in Lancashire today.
A 3-1 win over Southport coupled with Blyth Spartans’ victory at second-placed Brackley has left the Heed five points clear at the top with two to play.
Gateshead, who face a tricky game at fifth-top Chorley this afternoon, have a far superior goal difference of 21 on Brackley.
If the Saints fail to win at Hereford then Gateshead will be champions regardless of how they fare at the aptly named Victory Park.
Chorley, who won 1-0 at Gateshead in January, are equally as keen for the points to secure a home tie in the play-offs.
It promises to be a battle royal on a playing surface that player-manager Mike Williamson expects to be a challenge.
The destination of the title will only go to the last day if Gateshead lose and Brackley win, even then the Tynesiders would need just a point at home to Hereford.
Brackley boss Kevin Wilkin is already planning for the play-offs and Southport manager Liam Watson believes Gateshead are champions.
“Gateshead have been the best team in the league by a country mile,” said Watson.
“In my eyes they have won the league and are worthy winners.
“Fair play to Mike Williamson and his assistant. They have done an incredibly good job and have recruited really well.
“They have good players and the best front pairing I’ve seen for a while. They play their own system, can mix their play up, and they murdered us for the first 20 minutes.”
Gateshead blitzed a mid-table Southport side without a win in 11 league games to race into a two-goal lead inside 12 minutes.
By the half hour mark they could, and should, have been out of sight, only for Port to score with the first of only three efforts they mustered on goal.
That came on 37 minutes and changed the complexion of the game, the Sandgrounders energised, Gateshead less potent in the second half.
Owen Bailey’s third goal of the season seven minutes from the end of normal time finally settled home nerves on the pitch and in the stand.
JJ O’Donnell’s hero status at Gateshead had been elevated further after he put arch rivals Blyth in front at Brackley - never has a Spartans goal been so well received at the International Stadium.
Gateshead raced into a fourthminute lead against Southport when Dan Ward side-footed home Taylor Charters’ pull-back.
Ward then turned provider for Cedwyn Scott to power a low drive past Cameron Mason to ignite a 2,000-strong crowd.
Ward, Macaulay Langstaff, and Scott were all close to further goals and Carl Magnay had a header blocked on the line and then smuggled clear.
But when Port got in down the left leading scorer Jordan Archer undeservedly got his side back into the game.
While the visitors rarely threatened another goal they remained in the game until good work from Adam Campbell and Greg Olley saw
Bailey find the far corner with a great strike.
“We know what we have got to do at Chorley, and we’ll go there to try and get all three points,” said Gateshead’s 26-goal striker Cedwyn Scott.
“We will set up to win the game and try and play the same way we started the game against Southport.
“We just have to keep winning our games and if we get favours along the way, then great.
“At the end of the day it’s in our hands. We won’t get carried away, but the aim is to get the job done and win the title at Chorley.”
Hopes and expectations will be high among the large contingent of travelling Gateshead fans with those left on Tyneside waiting on anxiously.
Destiny beckons for the Heed class of 2022 on what they hope will be a field of dreams in Lancashire.