Same fixture as last week, this time in the league, and thankfully the same result getting us some much needed points on the board. Nothing out of the ordinary this season after we should have been 2-0 up in the first 5 minutes. The first chance falling to Dan Watson who cut inside from the left wing before rounding the keeper and seeing his stabbed attempt from 6 yards cleared off the line. Watson was again involved in the second as he got to the byline and cut it back to Nolan who had his shot from the edge of the area blocked. Our performance then seemed to deteriorate, as we struggled to gain control of the game. As far as chances go, there wasn't many at either end up until the opening goal, however Gateshead Redheugh were certainly on top. There was a warning sign minutes before the opposition took the lead, after Scott Tooley managed to hook the ball off the line with his back to goal. The goal then followed, a long ball into space was pounced upon by their winger who seen his cross deflect in over Symingtongs head, a lead that was deserved based on the flow of the game. We then started to get our act together a little with Roberts and Donnelly in midfield growing into the game pulling the strings. The eqauliser came sooner rather than later too, Nolan played Smith down the right hand side who cut in across the full back onto his left foot to score his first of the season. Smith then should have had his second of the game 5 minutes later, Nolan again involved in the build up before the ball fell on the edge of the area only to be put over the bar.
Into the second half and our performance didn't improve much from the first. The pattern of play remained similar with Redheugh being the team on top and in control however they weren't creating much to show. We then made a change, by bringing on Kyle Yorston in place of Dan Watson, with the substitute playing a part in the goal that gave us the lead. The ball rolled into the path of Yorston who had a dig from range which the keeper could only parry towards Daniel Wilson, who finished from close range. Further changes were made with Smith being replaced by Crozier and Surtees replacing Tooley in a bid to hold onto what we had. The final minutes of the game presented an opportunity to wrap up the tie, which was taken by Liam Donnelly. The chance came from defending a corner, and credit must go to Symington who relieved the pressure twice, once with a punch in a crowded area and secondly for starting the counter leading up to the goal. Donnelly calmly side footed past the keeper just inside the area after he was teed up by Yorston from deep.
That's now 4 wins from 5 games, after well and truly turning a corner. We haven't played very well the past 2 weeks in all honesty, yet we've had enough grit, determination and bite to come away with 2 wins. Good teams win games when they don't play well, but good teams don't play badly often either so that's our challenge for next week when we come up against league newcomers Alnmouth United at home.
