Braintree 1-0 Gateshead

Braintree 1-0 Gateshead
Vanarama Conference
Saturday 7th March 2015

Gateshead’s play-off hopes were dealt a hammer blow as a second-half penalty from Kenny Davis secured a valuable victory for Braintree Town at a sun-drenched Cressing Road. The Tynesiders face a mammoth task if they are to realise their promotion ambitions with games running out. This leaves Tuesday night’s game at home to Welling a must win game.

All afternoon-long, both teams cancelled each other out, with chances few and far between for either side.

Half chances from Lynden Gooch and Alex Rodman were the highlight of Gateshead’s first 45 minutes, with nothing clear cut being created.

Braintree didn’t register any shots on target and the teams went in at half time 0-0.

Braintree came out in the second half with a more attacking approach with Akinola playing a neat one-two with Mensah before smashing a right-footed effort against the crossbar.

The game’s defining moment came just in the 69th minute, as the lively Mensah was chopped down by left-back Matty Pattison. It was a momentary lapse for Pattison, who was one of Gateshead’s best performers on the day.

Davis stepped up to score the penalty, sending Adam Bartlett the wrong way.

Gary Mills then made a triple substitution, bringing on Kevin Sainte-Luce, Adam Campbell and Jon Shaw, but the heed struggled again to create any chances, relying on long balls into the box in the hope of the strikers getting onto the knockdowns.

Braintree deserved their win in the end, pretty much cementing their Conference status for another season, whilst Gateshead will hope other teams around them start to slip up, otherwise their promotion hopes will fade quickly.

Farnborough 2-2 Hemel Hempstead

Farnborough 2-2 Hemel Hempstead
Vanarama Conference South
Saturday 14th February 2015

Hemel Town had to settle for a point in a 2-2 draw at lowly Farnborough and will be kicking themselves for a series of missed opportunities and some lapses at the back.

Farnborough opened the scoring on 21 minutes when a long hopeful ball upfield was met by the impressive Reece Beckles; Moussa Diarra appeared to have won ball as the two players chased forward but Beckles forced the big defender into an error and he drove into the box and pushed the ball through the oncoming Laurie Walker’s legs.

Hemel almost equalised when an excellent cross from King was just cleared from the head of Oliver Hawkins by keeper Dillon Barnes from right under the crossbar.

It was only a temporary respite, though, as Hemel piled forward and good work down the right saw Kabamba set up Jordan Parkes, who wasted no time in getting his shot away. Barnes appeared to have the effort covered but the ball bounced in front of him and hit his chest, setting up an easy tap in for the onrushing James Potton who fired home on 27 minutes.

Both teams had a couple of half chances leading up to the break, with both keepers saving long range efforts easily. Hemel then forced a corner after 42 minutes and Parkes’ delivery caused confusion in Boro’s penalty area. Barnes tried to punch the ball away under challenge from Diarra and Hawkins, but he failed to make a proper connection, with the ball appearing to hit Diarra’s chest before bouncing onto Hawkins back and into the net. Hawkins wasn’t too sure himself who got the final touch.

The second period saw the home side push forward more, and some of their approach play belied their lowly position in the table. Hemel always looked dangerous on the break, however and chances came and went. Midway through the second half Potton made an excellent break into the box, playing a quick one-two with Dennis Oli who went down under the challenge from Barnes but the referee waved away the visitors’ appeal for a penalty.

Moments later, some good play by Farnborough saw Phil Page make a run in to the box before shooting from a tight angle. The effort deceived Walker somewhat, as he dived to his near post only to watch the ball skid past his outstretched foot and inside the far post to bring the scores level, just before the hour mark.

Hemel continued to make and miss chances as the game drew to a close; Hawkins, Oli, Matty Harriott and Potton all failing to find the target, and there was another decent penalty claim when a Boro player appeared to block a shot with both hands, with referee well placed, but once again he waved play on.

Sub Mo Sharif was causing an increasingly desperate defence problems, but it was Boro who could have nicked the game, when an excellent effort from Beckles seemed to heading for the top corner, with Walker superbly tipping the ball over the bar.

There was still time for Hawkins and Harriott to bring saves out of Barnes and, in the end, both sides had to settle for a share of the spoils.

Ebbsfleet 2-0 Braintree

Ebbsfleet 2-0 Braintree
The FA Carlsberg Trophy
Tuesday 3rd February 2015

Ebbsfleet are through to the FA Trophy quarter-finals for the first time in six years after a battling victory over Braintree at the PHB Stadium on Tuesday night.

Danny Kedwell opened the scoring, eight minutes before half-time, after which the home side came under huge pressure from their Vanarama Conference visitors. But the Fleet dealt with everything Braintree could throw at them and Adam Cunnington’s late strike clinched a third successive victory over higher-ranked opposition in this Trophy run. Jamie Day’s side now travel to North Ferriby United, of Conference North, in the last-eight on Saturday knowing they are now just two wins from Wembley.

Braintree’s first attempt on goal came from distance. Chez Isaac tried his luck from 35 yards and the ball was veering inside the right-hand post until Preston Edwards dived to turn it behind.

The visitors were winning the midfield battle as some heavy touches by the men in red gifted them cheap possession.

But after Kiernan had shot wide, the home side took a 37th-minute lead.

Cunnington did well to hold the ball up in the right-hand corner and when he fed Fish, the wing-back’s low cross was shovelled out into the six-yard box by Hamann and touched home by Kedwell.

It was very nearly 2-0 at half-time as the home side started to play with confidence. Kiernan’s shot from the left beat Hamann but the goalkeeper was rescued by centre-half Alan Massey, who headed the ball off the line.

Isaac then drilled a free-kick straight at Edwards from 35 yards and the Iron set about pinning Fleet back into their own half. Every player in red, including strikers Kedwell and Cunnington, joined the defensive effort as the home side were really stretched.

Braintree won a series of corners as the pressure kept mounting. One of them dropped on Simeon Akinola’s head and he thought he’d levelled the scores, only to look on in disbelief as Edwards dived low and somehow clawed the ball out of the bottom corner.

The home faithful turned up the volume as time ticked away, knowing their side were under the cosh.

And they were on their feet to salute a match-winning second goal in the 86th minute. Massey dawdled on the edge of his box and Cunnington pounced to roll the ball calmly past Hamann’s right hand.

Braintree substitute Joe Maybanks twice went close at the death but Cunnington’s strike sealed the deal – and a trip to Humberside at the weekend.

Southport 0-1 Gateshead

Southport 0-1 Gateshead
Vanarama Conference
31st January 2015

Gateshead saw off a spirited Southport team to earn a vital three points and carry on the current unbeaten run. The win sees them climb to 11th in the table, but only three points off the playoff spots, whilst Southport edge closer to the relegation places.

Gateshead started with a very intense pace and meaning to their game and the early pressure was rewarded when Rob Ramshaw saw an initial effort blocked, but the follow up strike was superb, curling a right foot shot from the left side of the box right into the far corner of the goal. It was nothing more than the visitors deserved.

Southport nearly equalised later in the half when James Curtis cleared an Andy Parry effort off the line. The hosts were well in the game at this point and had many corners from which they were unable to take advantage from. If they were to score, it was set pieces that could be the door opener for them, having seen them defeat Woking back in December with a dominant display in the air from this Southport team. HT 0-1.

The second half saw Southport have the majority of possession. However, they created very little from it. Their best chance produced a magnificent save from goalkeeper Adam Bartlett, after he tipped a Joyce effort around the post.

Given Gateshead’s lack of possession, it was they who created the better chances. Roberts had an excellent chance when he cut in from the right and fired across goal, only to see his effort deflected wide.

Following that, Adam Campbell had a great chance for 0-2, but saw his 18 yard effort go agonisingly over the bar having just leaned back a little too much. An effort the on loan Newcastle striker would’ve been disappointed not to score from.

But The Heed managed to see the game out for a 0-1 win, keeping their promotion dreams alive with a game or two in hand on the teams above them. Next they host Wrexham at home in a replay of the FA Trophy match, with an away tie awaiting in the quarter finals for the victor.

Wrexham 1-1 Gateshead

Wrexham 1-1 Gateshead
The FA Carlsberg Trophy
24th January 2015

The FA Carlsberg Trophy match between Wrexham and Gateshead on a bright day in North Wales ended in a stalemate, for two teams who came into the game in very different form. Wrexham were looking to stop the rot of defeats having lost heavily to bottom of the table Telford and away at Dover in the last couple of games, whilst Gateshead were on a good run of form having seen off Nuneaton and Grimsby. It would’ve been easy to assume Gateshead would win this match, but Wrexham put in a very good overall performance, with a draw being a fair reflection of the game.

The opening goal did go with the form book, however, with Adam Campbell scoring his third goal in two games since his loan move from Newcastle United, using the pace from an Andrai Jones left wing cross, to cleverly guide the ball into the back of the net for 0-1.

 

Gateshead didn’t lead for long though, as eight minutes later, Wes York swung in an excellent right wing cross, which Carrington attacked very well, forcing an excellent save from Bartlett. However, Bishop was there on the follow up to draw the sides level.

A few minutes later it looked as though Gateshead had taken the lead again, after Campbell reacted quickest to a goalward header from Curtis following a Pattison free kick. However, Campbell saw his effort disallowed for offside.

The second half didn’t create too many clear cut chances. The pick of the bunch were a 57 minute free kick from John Oster, who saw his effort hit the post and in stoppage time, Bailey-Jones could’ve won it for Wrexham, but failed to provide the necessary finish.

The game ended 1-1 and the replay will take place this Wednesday night in Gateshead. Both teams will feel they had chances to win, but ultimately that a draw was a fair reflection on the game. FT 1-1.

Nuneaton 0-2 Gateshead

Nuneaton 0-2 Gateshead
Vanarama Conference
Saturday 17th January 2015

Gateshead got back to winning ways against a Nuneaton team who have been left languishing at toward the bottom of the Vanarama Conference and not showing any signs of how they might get out of their predicament.

On a clear and cold afternoon in the Midlands, both teams were starting the match with three new signings, but it was the Gateshead signings who proved the difference. In particular the young Newcastle United loanees Adam Campbell and Callum Roberts, who gave the game a sprinkling of Premier League quality.

 

Campbell opened the scoring after a quarter of an hour after being put in on goal by Craig Baxter and showing great composure to slide the ball past goalkeeper Christian Dibble for 0-1.

Gateshead continued to dominate the proceedings and nearly went 0-2 up when Callum Roberts cut in from the left wing only to see his 20 yard shot rebound off the post.

However, it wasn’t long until it was 0-2, when some great work by Roberts on the left saw him cut the ball across the six yard box where Campbell was waiting to fire into the roof of the net.

Nuneaton did have time to create a chance of their own, when Streete clipped the top of the crossbar for Nuneaton with a looping header on the stroke of half-time. HT 0-2.

The second half started just as the first half had finished, with Gateshead seeing far more of the ball than the hosts. Within two minutes of the restart, Campbell almost completed his hattrick, when he sent a 20 yard left footed curling shot toward goal, only to see it rebound off the far post.

Nuneaton did create a few chances of their own throughout the half, but didn’t really create anything of note and rarely worked the Gateshead goalkeeper. The Heed were comfortable in possession throughout the half, without creating anything clear cut and saw the game out to collect their first three points since December 2nd. FT 0-2.

Knaphill 1-1 Chertsey Town

Knaphill 1-1 Chertsey Town
Combined Counties Premier Division
10^th January 2015

After numerous postponements in the Combined Counties leagues recently, both Knaphill and Chertsey Town were very happy to be back playing football again and went into this clash having only played twice in the last four weeks. Would the teams feel well rested or would the Christmas break mean the lack of match fitness could prove decisive? A win for either team would be a great chance to create some distance between themselves and the teams in the bottom five.

It was Chertsey Town who had the better of proceedings in the first half, showing more goal threat and creating a few more clear chances, and so deservedly took the lead on 27 minutes, when some good work by John Geraghty led to a simple finish from Jon Pomroy toward the back post for 0-1.

Chertsey goal 0-1

Chertsey Town celebration 0-1

There was very little other action of note in the first half and Chertsey went in at half time 0-1 to the good.

Knaphill came out in the second half with a lot more purpose and heaped the pressure on the Chertsey defence and were nearly rewarded when the bar was struck, which led to a scramble in the six yard box, which nearly resulted in the equaliser. However, Knaphill weren’t to be dispirited and kept good pressure on Chertsey, making their defence work hard and hitting the bar again midway through the half, before finally making their pressure tell on 76 minutes, when number 11, Ricky Hogsden scored an absolutely fantastic goal! After some good work down the right wing, the cross was slightly deflected, but Hogsden pounced on the loose ball before it could touch the ground, firing a thunderous volley into the top corner from 18 yards.

Knaphill goal 1-1

Knaphill goal 1-1

Knaphill’s good second half work was nearly undone just a few minutes from time when Chertsey striker Michael Saloko found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper, only for the Knaphill shotstopper to pull off an excellent and vital save for his team.

The game ended 1-1 and was a good point to start new Caretaker Manager Keith Hill’s tenure, following Phil Ruggles departure midweek.

Aldershot 1-2 Telford

Aldershot 1-2 Telford
Vanarama Conference
Sunday 4th January 2015

Telford took a big step toward survival today after taking all three points against a very lacklustre Aldershot team in the thick fog. It was a deserved win for the Bucks, who took the game to Aldershot from the off and called the shots throughout.

 

Telford had fired an early warning sign when Tony Gray struck the bar on 12 minutes with an excellent attempt from 20 yards, and it was no surprise when the Bucks deservedly took the lead midway through the first half when Neill Byrne headed in Josh Hancock’s corner on 28 minutes. HT 0-1.

Aldershot came out in the second half with a lot more purpose. However, they struggled to create chances, with Telford trying to pick them off on the counter attack. It wasn’t long until Telford’s tally was doubled on 64 minutes when Shots captain Joe Oastler turned into his own net after good work by Adam Farrell.

Five minutes later, the Shots finally got on the scoresheet themselves, with Brett Williams turning in a ring wing cross.

Aldershot goal 1-2

However, they weren’t able to create any more clear cut chances and Telford comfortably saw the game out and claiming a vital three points to keep their Conference survival challenge alive.

Players leave the pitch in thick fog

Gateshead 2-2 Halifax Town

Gateshead FC 2-2 Halifax Town FC
Vanarama Conference
Friday 26^th December 2014

With only four places and two points separating the teams, we were set for a post-Christmas cracker of a match between The Heed and Halifax Town, with both teams hoping for three points as their main present for the day.

Gateshead vs Halifax – first half

Gateshead started the game like they’d had a little too much turkey, as Halifax dominated the opening minutes and it was The Heed who hadn’t heeded the warnings, with the Shaymen rewarded on ten minutes, when Lois Maynard scored a 12 yard header from a right wing cross which bounced into the bottom corner.

Halifax goal 0-1

However, two minutes later, having not been in the game at all, Halifax giftwrapped Gateshead a chance and John Oster struck a nice first time effort past the helpless goalkeeper, completely against the run of play.

Oster goal 1-1

Halifax didn’t let this put them off though and continued to be the team on top. However, they weren’t creating any clear cut chances. Then on 25 minutes, Lois Maynard tried his luck from 30 yards, which somehow found its way past the Gateshead goalkeeper, who will be very disappointed not to have done better, as the ball appeared to go into the centre of the goal for 1-2.

Maynard goal 1-2

Goal 1-2

Halifax celebration 1-2

The first half action was not finished their, as Gateshead started to make more inroads into the match and were given another lifeline by the visitors in the 39^th minute when Ramshaw was brought down in the box for a penalty to Gateshead.

Gateshead penalty claim

Danny Wright cooly tucked away the penalty, although it was touch and go whether or not it should’ve been allowed, as Wright appeared to stutter his run a bit too much to the point of stopping. The Halifax players protested, but the goal stood and the teams went in at half time at 2-2.

Danny Wright penalty 2-2

Halifax protest about penalty

The second half followed a very different pattern and was entirely dominated by Gateshead. Rankine struck the post and skied a late 12 yard half volley and there were also a couple of good chances for John Oster. However, Gateshead couldn’t break down the stubborn Halifax defence and the game finished 2-2.

Oster chance

Both teams will be disappointed they didn’t take the three points, as both teams had large periods dominating the game and not taking advantage. However, on reflection a draw was a fair result and a gift neither team will be taking back.

Gateshead attack from corner

Woking FC 1-2 Southport FC

Woking FC 1-2 Southport FC
Vanarama Conference
Saturday 20th December 2014

This weekend’s fixture saw an opportunity for both teams to pick up much needed points going into the Christmas period. A win for Woking would see them stay in touch with the top four, whereas a win for Southport would see them pull slightly away from the dreaded drop zone.

Although Woking had much of the early possession, they weren’t creating too many chances and were made to pay on 12 minutes, when a Southport free kick was curled in left footed from the right wing. The ball pinballed around and was eventually met by the head of Charlie Joyce, who looped the ball over the helpless defenders for 0-1. Woking continued to push throughout the half, but again couldn’t break down the Southport defence and the teams went in at the break 0-1.

Southport goal 0-1

The second half started in a similar fashion to the first, and ten minutes in Southport were awarded a free kick. From the free kick the ball was headed in the net, but the goal was disallowed for offside. However, Woking didn’t learn their lessons on set pieces and it was Southport who went 0-2 up on 65 minutes when Dom Collins headed in from a David Fitzpatrick cross. It was going to be a long way back for the Cardinals now.

Woking pushed to get back into the game and saw a Dean Morgan free kick hit the bar, before Guiseppe Sole finally pulled one back for Woking in the 87^th minute with a 15 yard strike, after some great work down the left by John Goddard. However, it was too little, too late for Woking, with Southport leaving the Kingfield Stadium with all three points.

Giuseppe Sole goal 1-2