Keeper may be in doubt, but Heed’s grip on Cup is secure
GATESHEAD bring down the curtain on a magnificent campaign against Hereford at the International Stadium tomorrow.
The Tynesiders will be presented with the Vanarama National League North Trophy after the game against the mid-table Bulls.
A late goalkeeping problem has emerged and the champions may need to draft a keeper in at the 11th hour.
On loan Aston Villa keeper Filip Marschall took a heavy fall in the first half of Monday’s 2-2 draw at Chorley that secured the title.
The teenager did not train on Thursday and player-manager Mike Williamson was looking at a contingency plan, with back-up James Montgomery also injured.
Williamson said: “Marschall took a heavy knock at Chorley and has a couple of problems from that collision and fall.
“I’m hopeful he will be able to play the final game of his loan in what will be a big day against Hereford.
“If not we’ll have to look at an alternative, but we’ll see how Marschall shapes up.” Influential attacker Adam Campbell is out again and Williamson is unlikely to feature in the starting 11 once again.
“It’s disappointing not to be involved in the last two games, but I played in all the others, and I would have taken that at the start of the season,” said Campbell.
With the allocation of 2,600 seats in the main Tyne & Wear stand snapped up early yesterday fans are now buying tickets for the opposite East Stand.
Tickets are available online from the Gateshead FC website, with under 16s going free, while the International Stadium ticket office is open today between 4 and 6pm.
Vice-chairman Bernard Mcwilliams said of the all-ticket game: “I’m confident the crowd will be over 3,000 and I would love it to get close to 4,000.
“The players deserve it for the superb season they have had, and also for the fans and everyone else after what we went through a few years ago.”
The club nearly went under after being demoted from the National League for financial irregularities following the disastrous foreign ownership under Joe Cala and Dr Ranjan Varghese.
“The fans rallied around along with some local businessmen,” added Mcwilliams, “and Saturday will be a celebration to mark getting back into the National League.”
Gateshead are targeting a 29th
league win and also a century of league goals for only the third time in the club’s 92-year history.
Strikers Macaulay Langstaff and Cedwyn Scott are in four-way bid to win the National League North Golden Boot, the pair having grabbed 56 goals this season.
“Those numbers and accolades are what they are,” added Williamson.
“We want to turn up and enjoy the occasion as there has been pressure and high energy around the place.
“When we won the league on Monday it was elation combined with relief, because we have achieved what we set out to.
“Ultimately
we want to win the game tomorrow. We enjoy winning and we do that by sticking to our process, which is hopefully in their DNA now.
“It would be nice for one of our players to win the Golden Boot and for us to get to 100 league goals.
“If we do then that will be the byproduct of us working our socks off for the whole season.
“The spirit and togetherness has been our real strength. There are a lot of good friendships and nice personal stories.
“Everyone has played their part and it has been an extended family. We want to sign off with a win after what has been a great season.” Hereford head north attempting to spoil the Heed party on the back of two wins and three defeats in their last six games. Manager Josh Gowling said: “Gateshead have been by far the best team in the division and are deserved winners.”