Recap: Gateshead 0-1 Harriers

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Harriers got back in the winning groove with a huge performance to pick up a 1-0 win at Gateshead on Saturday.

In what was meeting of two teams who’ve started brightly in National League North, the day promised plenty and, for the most part, it was an enjoyable game albeit with a scrappy end. The three points were secured and sent back on their way to Worcestershire courtesy of a goal from an unlikely source – Lewis Montrose rose to meet an Ashley Hemmings corner and thighed, if that’s a thing, the ball into the net as it deceived the goalkeeper and all around him.

While Gateshead may have some cause to feel aggrieved at not taking something from this game, yet another display of Harriers sheer doggedness and determination to not concede ultimately won out, giving Russ Penn’s men a big three points on the road.

Luke Simpson reflects on
Gateshead 0-1 Kidderminster Harriers
12/12/20 National League North

The fairly bitty way the game ended was a cry from the way it started, with chances at either end and both goalkeepers called into action, Keith Lowe forcing Male into a great diving save at one end before Simpson repeatedly denied the home side, not least Olley who was foiled when through one-on-one.

Austin and Morgan-Smith then hit off target before the keepers again were called upon – Richards stinging the gloves of Male before Greenfield extended Simpson, Garner then going even closer on 34 minutes but finding the Reds’ stopper in good form. Morgan-Smith then had two more bites of the cheery before the break, the latter effort being a header that was only a fraction wide of the target.

The hour mark had come and gone before either goal was truly threatened again, and in a tremendous melee heaven only knows how Austin’s shot didn’t find the net as boots and bodies were flying everywhere – the lively Preston then arrowing an effort wide for the Heed not long after.
Montrose’s goal came with seven of normal time to play and was a victory for being in the right place at the right time – in came another threatening Hemmings corner as the skipper leapt and got a thigh, maybe a hip to it, dropping the ball to the floor and sending it trickling into the net almost unnoticed.

Gateshead rallied and there were chances for an equaliser, not least two minutes after the goal when Greenfield took aim with a rising shot that whistled past the top corner of the goal and, thankfully, wide.
Another big one ticked off.

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