HEED ROLL OVER THE STONES TO CHARGE ON

GATESHEAD continued their excellent recent form under interim boss Rob Elliot with this convincing victory over Wealdstone at The Vale.

Early goals from Mamadou Jobe, Kieron Evans and Marcus Dinanga sent the Tynesiders into a commanding lead inside 17 minutes.

Tarryn Allarakhia reduced the deficit for the hosts but skipper Louis Storey’s goal ensured all three points for his side, with Jadyn Mundle-Smith’s second-half strike proving only consolatory.

This win marked Elliot’s third victory in the last four league games for play-off hopefuls Gateshead, while Stones new boss David Noble is still in search of his first win having taken over at the helm earlier this month.

“The start of the game was incredible – the lads are amazing,” Elliot enthused.

“Considering how new the group is and how many injuries we had, I’m really proud of them.

“The way they take on information is incredible.”

Elliot’s men made the perfect start when, just five minutes in, Callum Whelan’s teasing cross was met by Jobe, who clinically fired past Marcus Dewhurst into the bottom corner.

Seven minutes later, it was 2-0 – Luke Hannant cutting a loose ball back into the box and Evans coolly slotting past Dewhurst.

And it got even better for the visitors five minutes later when top goal scorer Dinanga popped up to tap home Gateshead’s third – and his 14th goal of the season.

Gateshead were close to notching a fourth on the half-hour after Hannant and Ben Worman combined, but Dewhurst was on-hand to smother the former’s effort.

Moments later, Kain Adom teed-up Hannant inside the box, but Dewhurst reacted with an instinctive save to deny the midfielder.

Wealdstone, though, found some rhythm as the first half ticked on and and they pulled a goal back on 38 minutes when danger-man Allarakhia curled a superb strike into the top corner past Harrison Bond from 25 yards.

The Stones had an opportunity to pull another goal back just before the break when Sam Bowen’s pinpoint pass found Micah Obiero, but his drilled shot was wellclaimed by Bond.

The home side started the second half on the front foot too but it was the Tynesiders who extended their advantage further on 50 minutes when skipper Storey fired home from just inside the area for 4-1.

Dewhurst denied Dinanga a fifth before Wealdstone reduced the deficit to two once again in the 66th minute – Mundle-Smith converting past Bond for the hosts’ second.

Noble’s Stones kept plugging away and went close again at the death as Aaron Henry drove a shot from range on target, but Bond responded with a solid save to preserve the scoreline.