Media Watch - Late goals haunt Gateshead again

Never mind the January sales at the town's famed Metro Centre - the real Gateshead give away can be found on a weekend at the International Stadium.

For the second consecutive Saturday Gateshead's promotion hopes took a hammer blow when lowly opponents scored twice at the death.

Last week Lincoln City came back from the dead to score twice in the last ten minutes to pinch a 3-3 draw.

Fast forward a week and second bottom Newport County pulled off an even bigger smash and grab.

Equalising in the last minute through Sam Foley after Tim Deasy had saved his initial penalty, County sub Jake Harris popped up with the winner four minutes into stoppage time.

Five points thrown away on consecutive weekends and had the Heed seen both games out as they should have they would be sitting pretty in 4th place.

Instead Ian Bogie's men have slipped to 8th though still only two points adrift of the final play-off spot and three behind 4th-top York City.

Bogie was stunned that his side could collapse late on for the second week running, seven of the last eight sides to visit Gateshead scoring in the last ten minutes.

Bogie said: "It is becoming psychological and if we defend like we have been doing of late we have no chance of getting into the play-offs,"

"Newport belied their lowly league position but we got ourselves two up and then threw the game away yet again.

"We can't defend for toffee. We couldn't do the fundamentals against Newport and were all over the place. Time and time again it's the same elementary mistakes.

"It's not as if the lads aren't working hard or playing for each other, they are, but it's about time some players cemented their place in the side and show that they can do the job.

"I keep revolving personnel each week. They get two or three games, do well, and then go back to their old selves again.

"Until the lads start to learn how to defend properly as a team, and learn when to shut off games we will get results like this.

"It's not good enough. We are capable of scoring goals, and the front three did well, but we always look vulnerable and it has been a very disappointing week."

Liam Hatch marked his home debut with a headed goal in first half injury time and then Jon Shaw found the bottom corner after the break with a good finish.

Elliott Buchanan, however, pulled a goal back four minutes later, Micky Cummins' trip saw Foley level on 90 minutes and then Harris found the far corner deep into injury time.

In between those two late sickeners Jamie Chandler was sent off for a kick on Lee Minshull, the Heed's third red card in the last four games.