KAIN HAS THE RIGHT TOUCH
HIGH-FLYING Gateshead twice came from behind for a vital win in an incredible end-to-end play-off six pointer at Altrincham.
Super-sub Kain Adom struck the winner with his first touch of the ball to complete a remarkable victory after Marcus Dinanga and Kieron Evans had both equalised following Alex Newby’s early goal and a wonder strike from Dan Mooney.
“I’m really really pleased with the result, at this stage of the season it’s massive,” said Tynesiders boss Rob Elliot. “I don’t think many sides will go behind twice at Altrincham and still get the result.
“We gave away two poor goals, but I’m delighted with the reaction. I feel like we grew into the game, and once we got the shape right, we looked good going forward.
“And I’m really pleased with the mentality of these players to keep their heads up, against a good Altrincham side.”
It was the hosts that started the brighter and dominated most of the first half. The Robins went in front on 16 minutes when Gateshead defender Mamadou Jobe failed to deal with a long ball over the top and Newby nicked the ball. And the winger showed good footwork to cut in from the left and fire into the bottom corner.
An Alty should’ve doubled their lead seven minutes later when Newby’s corner fell nicely to Elliot Osborne ten yards out, but the midfielder blazed his effort over the bar.
The visitors changed things going into the interval and began to look threatening, and equalized five minutes after the break. The very lively Evans met Dajaune Brown’s low cross, and his effort beat the keeper, only to be stopped on the line by Jake Cooper. But former Alty man Dinanga
reacted quickest to turn in the rebound.
Three minutes later the game swung again, as Robins sub Mooney sprinted down the right and surprised everyone by cutting inside and hitting a curling effort from the edge of the area straight into the top corner.
But a third goal in seven minutes saw the Heed again draw level on 57 when Ben Worman crossed from the left to
Evans, again in space in the box, and he took a touch before confidently slotting in.
The turnaround was completed in the 73rd minute when a long throw wasn’t dealt with by the Alty defence and Adom volleyed into the roof of the net within 30 seconds of being on the pitch.
Altrincham looked shell-shocked and failed to regroup. Top scorer Chris Conn-Clarke headed wide late on, but this was Gateshead’s day, and sees them leapfrog Altrincham back into the top seven.
“I’m disappointed to be twice in the lead and still lose.” Said Alty assistant boss Neil Sorvel. “It’s imperative we stick to what we can do well and not get beat in that manner.”
STAR MAN: Kieron Evans (Gateshead)
ATT: 3,239
ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★
REFEREE: Ruebyn Ricardo