Lincoln 2 Gateshead 4

What a great result for GATESHEAD and what a great day for the HEED ARMY. The trip to LINCOLN by coach can be very long winded but the end result was well worth it with a much deserved 3 points for the lads.

For an away match so close to New Year, the HEED ARMY took a fair few fans and were once again in good voice!

The game started well, with the GATESHEAD looking in fine form. There was only one change made in the side from the Boxing Day game and that was the return of Craig (Nelly) Nelthorpe. GATESHEAD for the first quarter looked the better side and they were rewarded with a goal by Paul (Thommo) Thompson. A superb header that was celebrated with the words “3 more to go”. Let’s hope Thommo can break the record and become the HEED ARMYS all time leading scorer.

LINCOLN responded well and started to get on top of GATESHEAD. A scuffle in the box and a few deflections later, the ball ended up in the net. With the score level at half time the game was there for the taking.

LINCOLN came out in the second half and threw everything at GATESHEAD. They were on top and once again, a scuffle and a deflection led to another scrappy goal. With GATESHEAD now 2-1 down, the long coach trip home was starting to dawn upon me.

But the Boxing Day change in the side proved to be a match winning decision by Tony Lee. It was now time for the young Craig (Nelly) Nelthorpe to turn on the heat and with two top class strikes; Gateshead found themselves 3-2 up in no time. Nelthorpe's goals were both strikes across the box, beating the keeper in the bottom corner. His second rattled the net and it hit home that this young lad has got a massive future ahead of him. He truly is a class act!

GATESHEADS forth came from the work horse himself “Davie Southern”. This lad’s work rate was once again superb and at last he got to slot one home and celebrate in style with a Kilinsman style dive into the corner flag! Southern was taunted all day by LINCOLNS two big centre halves, but he was rewarded in the end and nearly made it 5 with a shot that rolled past the post by inches near the end of the game.

In summary, GATESHEAD played with passion away from home and they got a great result. “Jamie Curtis” looked like he was getting back to his best with a much improved performance and “Craig (Over the hill) Baxter” had a great game down the right. Overall it was a whole team performance and lads pulled together, putting the Boxing Day draw to the back of my mind. Bring on Radcliffe Borough next week!

Man of the match: Craig (Nelly) Nelthorpe 10/10.

The Heed Army Blog would like to thank Private Goody for the match report.