Gateshead 3 North Ferriby Utd 1

The Tynesiders followed up there fine win at Guiseley with a great display over North Ferriby Utd at the International Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Wayne Phillips, Jamie Harwood Scored the first and last Heed Goals Respectively. James Dudgeon also scored his first goal for the club.

Ian Bogie will be over the moon with to good results over the Festive programme but will sure be on top of his team so they keep up winning ways away to Whitby on New Years day.

Guiseley 1 Gateshead 2

Gateshead gave some Christmas stuffing to Guiseley on boxing day, to retrurn to winning ways after no wins in the last four league games.

David Southern (pictured) was the Paxo to Guiseleys Turkey! scoring two vital goals and giving the traveling heed Army something to sing about.





Southern now has 12 goals this season and will be keen to add to his tally against North Ferriby on Saturady.

Gateshead 1 Ashton United 1

Same old story, different match day. Similar to Wednesday night against Farsley Celtic, we started well and dominated the first half, taking the lead midway through the first half when Graeme Armstrong instinctively headed a Phil Cave cross into the net.

 

Gateshead passed the ball well for the first forty minutes, but once again massively lacked in the final 3rd of the pitch. Wayne Phillips playing in a floating free role behind the front two once again caused the opposition problems. They didn't like him running at them. However at times he held on to the ball slightly too long, not that there were many options available to give it to (without going backwards).

 

Gateshead really should've gone on to put Ashton out of sight in the second half. But once again we suffered big time Charlie headitis, with certain players not being able to battle when it starts getting tough.

 

Credit has to go to Ashton as they kept going and got their reward with 10 minutes to go. Aitken came for a cross and failed to deal with it, his punch fell to the edge of the area only to be dispatched into a partially unguarded net. It probably was a foul on Aitken but the truth is he should've done better. Aitken made up for it with a good save late on to save our blushes.

 

I've run out of answers with this current squad, they did it at the start of the season but I just can't see them getting back to that form. The wheels have well and truly started to come off, hard decisions need to be made now before we're out of sight.

 

Aitken 7

Did ok, 1 good save to stop them winning it. Possibly fouled for their equaliser, but still should've done better.

 

Baxter 7

Solid, with a few good crosses.

 

Cave 7

Not one of his better games, but a good cross for the goal. Both fullbacks had little protection.

 

Dudgeon 8

Solid performance, didn't put a foot wrong and dealt with all that needed to be.

Heed Army Blog Man of the Match.

 

Thompson 8

Looked good a centre half again.

 

Gate 6

A couple of good blocks, but went missing in a 3 man midfield.

 

McClen 6

Started well but once again faded out the game and was substituted.

 

Bowey 6.5

Huffed and puffed, had the ball in the net to be ruled off side. Lacked a final product and quality passing.

 

Phillips 7

Again looked dangerous, but with this new free role he seems to be overplaying it a little too much. I would say better deployed on the left touchline, but what's the point if he crosses it into the middle and there's no one there.

 

Southern 6

Not really at the races today after scoring a good goal on Wednesday night. Probably would be better deployed as a right winger?

 

Armstrong 6.5

Good instinctive finish with a header. However when given time on the ball he panics and invariably picks the wrong option.

 

Subs:

 

Robson 6

Not at any stage this season have we utilised his speed by putting balls for him to run on to. Everything is into his feet, and strength is not his asset.

 

Harwood 6

Came on and didn't do much. A couple of runs on the wing.

 

Talbot 6.5

Solid enough, but a left back for left back substitution isn't gonna to set the World on fire  

Merry Christmas

The Heed Army Blog would like to wish all Gateshead fans and readers a very Merry Christmas!!!!!


Also a Merry Christmas to all involved at GFC from Chairman to kit man, they all play their part.

Farsley Celtic 4 Gateshead 1

Gateshead crashed out of the FA Tophy at Farsley Celtic on Wednesday night.

David Southern (pictured) was on target for the Tynesiders to take his tall to 10 goals for the season.

Farsley Celtic now entertain Alfreton Town in the next round of the Trophy.

Farsley Preview

The Tyensiders travel to Yorkshire with dreams of Wembly still in the offing.

Gateshead look set to still have Paul Thompson and Steve Salvin (pictured) in the centre of the makeshift defence as the Heed take on Farsley for a second time in a week.

Farsley of the Blue Square Premier showed they are no push over at the International Stadium by pegging back the score minutes after going one down.
Farsley have also installed caretaker manger John Daecey as the new manger, he has been in charge since early November after Lee Sinnott left to take charge of Port Vale.

If Gateshead overcome Farsley they could be at home to either Alfreton or Southport in the next round.

The Bookmakers have Gateshead 8/1 to win the replay on Wednesday night, lets hope all heed fans have a few pound on to help pay for them extra Christmas drinks!!!!

Gateshead 1 Farsley Celtic 1 [FAT1]

A bright and inventive Gateshead were denied a place in the next round (at the first time of asking) by a magnificent drive from outside the area.

Football Conference side Farsley Celtic looked like giants compared with our lads at kick off, but come the final whistle it was our players who looked bigger. The experienced campaigners such as Steve Torpey can consider themselves lucky to still be in the FA Trophy.

Gateshead started the game brightly and had the lion share of possession and chances. A makeshift central defensive pairing of Steve Salvin and Paul Thompson put in a good shift together and kept the Farsley front two under wraps for most of the game. The performance was a vast improvement on the way we've played recently in the league. In the first half David Southern looked more like the player of last season, cutting inside and firing in left footed efforts from distance. However the main man of the first half was undoubtedly left winger Wayne Phillips who gave the Farsley Right-Back an torrid afternoon. Roaming in off the left touchline time and time again the full back didn't know what to do.

Both sides had good chances which they couldn't take, with the wood work coming to the rescue at times. Gateshead looked to produce from the wing with Phillips, Baxter and Southern delivering good crosses into the middle, unfortunately we lack a sniffer in the box who naturally knows where to be to get on the end of such deliveries.

Half-time 0-0

Farsley looked better in the second half but it was Gateshead who made most of the chances. Just when it looked like a goal would never come for the Heed, Graeme Armstrong latched onto a high ball on the edge of the box to loop a header (Which seemed to be in the air forever) over the keeper and into the back of the net. Unfortunately just as the Heed Army were going crazy, moments later Simeon Bambrook unleashed an unstoppable drive from outside the area which had Peter Keen at full stretch to no avail as it found the far corner.

Gateshead had chances to win it late on as they surged forward. Davy Southern got in a couple of times but indecision haunted him when he should possibly have pulled the trigger. Gateshead edged the game on possession and chances, so Farsley will be only too happy to get away with a replay.

It's a replay on Tuesday night in Farsley, let's hope we can make it to the next round but maybe more importantly turn our cup form into league form where the lads battle against lesser teams.

Line up and ratings:

Keen 8
Some crucial saves, good handling from high balls. More like the Keeno of old. Great save near the end to make sure of a draw.

Baxter 7
Solid display. Wasteful at times with long balls, but some good crosses.

Cave 7
Held the left well when Phillips went roaming. Solid display.

Thompson 7
Occasionally his positioning was off, but you can ask more of an emergency centre half than to battle and make it difficult. He did his job well, reminded me of that time he played against the enemy up the road at centre half and marked them out of the game.

Salvin 8
Strong against a bigger lad in Steve Torpey. A great display by him and Thomo.

Gate 6
Not a great game by Kris Gate. His passing was off and he looked a yard off the pace at times.

Phillips 8
Outstanding once again from Phillips. He ran the first half, cutting inside and giving the Farsley defence all sorts of problems.
Heed Army Blog Man of the Match.

McClen 7
An improved performance on the last game. First half he got stuck in and not in the crazy two footed manner. He played some intelligent passes, but started to fade a little towards the end.

Bowey 6
Not one of Bowsers best games. He played the more advanced midfield role where he should be, but unfortunately his passing was off today. He needs to be given more protection in central midfield (Salvin alongside him maybe?)

Southern 7
The first half he looked more like the Davy Southern of last season, cutting inside and taking shots on. Second half his control from long balls was exceptional, but the confidence had faded. He looked to pass it when he should've taken it on himself and have a dig, he also over elaborated at times (Maybe he should keep it simple until the confidence comes back?).

Armstrong 7
Great looping header for the goal. Grafted well all game, but he needs to learn when to make runs to the near post, when to come short and when to stay long.

Subs:

Harwood 7
A couple of good direct runs, but needs to try and get more involved in winning the ball back when we lose possession.

Unused - Talbot, Robson.

Gateshead 1 Marine 2

Gateshead suffered their third league defeat in a row at the International stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Marine started the better and got a goal inside 3 minutes, after Craig Baxter missed a through ball which led to the goal.

Gateshead seemed to have a lot of the ball yet couldn’t get the ball passed midfield, leaving the forwards in no mans land for much of the game.
Negative balls from the midfield left little chances for the forwards to get any hold of the games, most balls from McClen finding the full backs and wingers.
Phillips can hold his head high after his performance in midfield, after he got forward back across, everything his team mates didn’t do.

In the second half Craig Baxter’s cross come shot found its way into the back of the net to draw Gateshead level after 4 minutes.

As in the first half the Heed had much of the ball without it moving forward, yet the time bomb that was the Gateshead midfield and defence did give to much room to the Marine forward and he slotted home from distance to give Marine a good win over Play off chasing Gateshead.

In all the game was there for Gateshead to take, yet we showed the fight of a Buddhist monk at prey time. If the Heed really count themselves as one of the teams that can gain promotion from the UniBond some fight and heart need to be injected in to the players.

The fans will turn up at games, lets hope the players do the same!!!

Line Up and Ratings:

Keen 6
maybe could have done better with the winning goal

Baxter 6
Looked off the pace, scored a good goal but that was it

Cave 7
Links up really well with Phillips

Jones 7
Hope his injury isnt to bad

Dudgeon 7
Big lad, looked a little slow but read the ball well

Gate 6
Never got going, until the full time whistle

Phillips 9
Gave his all, ran his heart out, developing into a great left winger for the Heed
Heed Army Blog Man Of The Match

Bowey 6
Looked rusty, few games time he will be firing on all cylinders

McClen 5
The lad has talent, but needs to find the battling and attacking side of his game!!!

Armstrong 6
would have got gold if he was in race

Southern 7
Not being fully used to get the best from him, need the ball at his feet not in the air

Subs:

Robson (not used)

Flynn 7
The Fall guy, played a blinder last week, rewarded with the bench

Harwood 6
Need to find his form from September