BIG BEN TICKING AGAIN IN THRILLER

BEN STREVENS’ late goal saw Eastleigh end a run of poor results with a dramatic win against Gateshead.

Substitute Strevens tapped home the winner in the dying moments following great work from Mark Yeates, after the visitors had battled back from 2-0 behind to level the scores.

Eastleigh’s assistant boss Andy Hessenthaler said: “It’s nice to win a game at the death like that, but we shouldn’t have put ourselves in that position after being 2-0 up.

“Their first goal went in and we looked a little bit nervous, but that’s understandable because of the run that we have been on. I think we showed good character to dig in and we deserved that win today.”

It took just five minutes for the home side to get in front with Ben Williamson latching on to Sam Wood’s through-ball and knocking the opening goal across Dan Hanford.

They almost doubled that lead when Danny Hollands turned Ayo Obileye’s cross on to the post, and then Williamson smashed the rebound against the bar. Gateshead had opportunities to level, but Richard Peniket was foiled by a great sliding block from Callum Howe, then Wes York was denied by a fine save from Ross Flitney. Heed were restricted to hopeful long-range efforts and when James Constable doubled the Eastleigh lead it looked like game over. But Gateshead battled back, first Jordan Preston hit home a rebound after Jordan Burrow’s shot had been saved. Then Theo Vassell bundled home from a corner to level the scores. The drama came in the fifth minute of stoppage time when sub Yeates jinked into the box and hit a low shot which was turned in by Strevens, almost on the goal line. There was a hint of offside and Gateshead manager Steve Watson said it was a “no brainer”, but the boss added: “We played some good football. We could have won the game and then we get caught with a naïve goal.”