Report: Gateshead 0-2 Magpies

 

Maidenhead United earned a thoroughly deserved three points at the Gateshead International Stadium on Saturday afternoon with goals from Manny Onariase and Shawn McCoulsky. 

 

Alan Devonshire made several changes to the line up which lost to Sutton the previous weekend. Will de Havilland returned from injury, while Remy Clerima made his first start since January with new signing Brendan Kiernan on the bench. 

 

United kicked off the game, and it wasn’t long before the visitors had their first opportunity. Tristan Abrahams went for goal around 25 yards out in the 5th minute, but curled his effort just wide of the left post. 

 

Within a quarter of an hour, Manny Onariase scored the Magpies’ first effort on target. A Nathan Ferguson free kick found the centre-half on the left side of the box, and Onariase’s looping header left Tiernan Brooks stranded as the ball landed in the back of the net. 

 

Maidenhead’s intent to sit back naturally gave more opportunities to the Heed. Craig Ross made a unique save with his foot to deny Jack Roles, while Remy Clerima bravely headed away Jovan Malcolm’s powerful strike. 

 

Despite having been an achilles heel in recent weeks, United looked much improved on both attacking and defending set pieces. Shawn McCoulsky’s headers tested Brooks three times in as many minutes, with two of those opportunities created from a free kick and a corner. 

 

A couple of pot shots from the Heed proved to be fruitless as the half drew to a close, and United led at the interval. 

 

 

Gateshead emerged from the tunnel seeking an equaliser, and they seemed destined to get it with just two minutes on the clock in the second half. A Thierry Latty-Fairweather slip allowed Hannant to drive down the right. His subsequent cross only needed a full connection to land in the back of the net, but the crucial touch wasn’t as desired and United cleared the danger. 

 

Set pieces proved to be a recurring theme throughout the second half, with Ferguson and Roles both blasting their efforts into the wall from 35 and 20 yards out respectively. 

 

While able to create opportunities, a persistent Gateshead found converting them troublesome. Through balls often dribbled off the pitch, while the linesman’s flag was raised on more than one occasion as the Heed fell to United’s offside trap. 

 

The hosts’ afternoon could perhaps be summarised by McCoulsky’s winner in the 84th minute. A lazy pass between the two defenders was collected by the striker, who scored one of the easier goals of his career as he tapped home into an empty net. 

 

Dan Jones, the recipient of the pass, struggled to recompose himself as McCoulsky faced two one-on-ones with minutes left on the clock. Brooks saved one of the attempts with his legs, with Jones pushing McCoulsky out of the way to deny the other. 

 

As Modern Romance echoed around the GIS, United held on to secure a massive three points and escape the relegation zone. 

 

 

Gateshead: Brooks, Belehouan, Jones, Horton, Hannant, Worman (Thompson, 83’), Booty, Humbles, Roles (Newton, 77’), Malcolm, Sellars-Fleming 

 

Magpies: Ross, de Havilland, Latty-Fairweather, Ferguson, McCoulsky, Ferdinand, Pettit, Cochrane, Clerima, Abrahams (Johnson, 82), Onariase 

 

Attendance: