Gateshead’s first home game in the Conf North got off to a shaky start, with central defenders James Curtis and Carl Jones both selling Keeper Musselwhite short with weak back passes.
Both instances ending in a corner for Droylsden after Musselwhite scrabbled the ball away.
Droylsden showed why they was in the Blue Square Premier last season with some slick passing on the very wet surface.
While talking about the surface of the pitch, all that was missing was Marti Pellow as it was WET WET WET!!
In the later stages of the match large amounts of standing water was gathering to form many puddles, causing the ball to stop dead on many occasions.
The first half was not an uneven affair, with both side having three decent chances, Craig Baxter having one of the better chances after beating two Droylsden defenders, only to spray the ball just past the post from 18 yards.
The second half was effected by the weather, but both sides did try and keep the ball on the deck but to little avail.
The deadlock was broke when Kris Gate scored and outlandish over head kick inside the box, to send the Heed Army Wild in the stands.
John Brackstone was stretchered off , a worrying sight to see, this was not the first injury as two Droylsden defender also had to leave the pitch after picking up injuries in the first half.
Sadly the Tynesiders lead was not to last till the final whistle, Droylsden drew back level after a poor clearance from the Heed defence landed to Droylsden and they capitalised on the Gateshead defence that did not push out. Newton netted for Droylsden.
Line up and ratings:
Musselwhite 8
Did well to grab the wet ball many times
Baxter 9
Ran his heart out, controlled well in the conditions
Man of the Match
Brackstone 7
Didn’t get forward as much as Baxter but did well until injury
Curtis 7
Very shaky start, but turned it around
Jones 7
Let his head drop in the first ten minutes
Gate 6
Never made any inroads in this match, but scored a great overhead kick
S. Turnbull 7
Conditions didn’t help his passing game
P. Turnbull 8 (Captain)
Battled in the middle well, but found no support on the wings
Harwood 6
Very jekyll and Hyde performance, showed his class at times but also showed little fight when it came to the crunch.
Armstrong 8
Strong, agile and solid, three word to describe his game.
Southern 6
Lack of pace and being out on the left, left Mr Southern with very little impact on the game apart from the odd cross. Although when the game slowed he did gather momentum.
