For a pre-season fixture, this was a proper game of footy! Gateshead have spent heavily over the summer to bolster their strike force - they are targeting 100 goals next season and their signing of Danny Johnson from Cardiff and Ryan Bowman from Torquay (not picked last night) is a sign of their intent. From the start we matched them in intensity (Luke Shiels and Dave McGurk especially impressive against a difficult sunlight in the first half). I thought Kerry showed up well again in midfield but naturally the big difference was Dom Knowles - he struck up an instant partnership with Paul Clayton and it is clear that defenders hate his pace and willingness to take them on, play off the shoulder and pounce in the box.
Hard to see Speight having much of a role to play at all with Clayton, Knowles and Thewlis on board + Gascoigne a week or two away from full training
Good news that Fallowfield might be back a bit earlier than forecast
Jack Emmett ill?
Great performance and result last night, back four exposed to Johnson's pace twice - for their two goals - but overall, some genuine coherence in our football and the team seem to have a good relationship with the vocal fans!
Hard to see Speight having much of a role to play at all with Clayton, Knowles and Thewlis on board + Gascoigne a week or two away from full training
Good news that Fallowfield might be back a bit earlier than forecast
Jack Emmett ill?
Great performance and result last night, back four exposed to Johnson's pace twice - for their two goals - but overall, some genuine coherence in our football and the team seem to have a good relationship with the vocal fans!