Friendly
Dunston UTS 0
Gateshead 2
Att 440
Dunston welcomed Gateshead to the UTS Stadium for their first friendly encounter of the 2015-16 season. Manager Billy Irwin and has been very active during the close season and has introduced some good signings to strengthen his squad for the coming league and cup campaigns, although Alex Francis, Liam Thear and Michael Dixon were not available for this game against a strong Gateshead side who were beaten 1-0 by a reasonable Newcastle United side last Friday. New signings Michael Pearson (right back), Adam Wilkinson (centre back), Matthew Briggs (midfield), Steven Richardson and Malcolm Morien (forwards) were selected in the starting line-up, with Scott Martindale (midfield) and Scott Martindale (centre back) on the bench.
The game started in sunshine on a beautifully prepared pitch and both sides were showing that they were up for a challenge. Gateshead showed their potential early as Dunston strived to close down and contain them; however on 3 and 5 minutes Gillies had shots blocked by the Dunston defence. On 7 minutes the Dunston defence were beaten by a through ball which found Phillips who calmly slotted the ball into the far right hand corner
of the net past an advancing Connell for 1 -0 to Gateshead.
On 12, Gateshead won their first corner as the Dunston defence cleared a dangerous cross from the left wing and on 14 Hodgson had to clear another cross over his own cross bar. On 15 Dunston almost got an equaliser as Patterson deflected a cross towards the Gateshead goal but Russell pulled off an acrobatic save to prevent the chance. On 20 Morien attacked and beat Buddle and played a cross come shot across the Gateshead goal area. Gateshead replied and broke quickly with McLaughlin on the left side pulling a ball back to Shaw who picked his spot of the Right hand corner of the net giving Connell no chance to save, 2-0 to Gateshead.
Dunston rallied and on 22 Morien in the box drew the Russell off his line; his shot past the keeper but also went past the far left hand post, then on 23 Burrell had a 25 yard shot deflected for a corner. At the other end Gateshead were still creating problems and on 24 Allan headed wide of the target from 15 yards out, then on 27, Allan shot wide from 30 yards out. Allan again on 30 Minutes got a header in on target but the alert Gilhespy cleared his lines. On 31 Briggs went on a mazy dribble before playing a ball through the Gateshead defence for Morien, but Russell was alert and came out to smother the ball.
The game was becoming a more even contest with both sides playing some entertaining and competitive football and on 33 Phillips received a cross from Shaw and his shot went just wide of the right hand post. Dunston not to be denied on 35 minutes as Morien again was played through and despite a stumble he put in a cross which Russell did well to
collect and prevent a Dunston chance.
At Half time Changes were made by both sides and this dulled the entertainment a little but it was Gateshead again who got the first chance on 48 minutes as Gillies latched onto a Dunston goal line clearance and blasted a shot from 20 yards over the bar.
Dunston were competing but Gateshead were showing their superior fitness and technique and created a chances for Phillips who forced a corner on 52, then on 53 a Gillies free-kick from 20 yards went over the bar, and again on 65 Gillies had a shot go wide of the target from 18 yards out.
Dunston battled and probed to get into the game and on 68 Harrison met a Burrell cross which was headed wide. On 69 Connell sliced a clearance but Martindale was on hand to clear, then on 70 Baxter put in a good cross which Pearson did well to clear from the danger.
On 75 Chandler had two attempts his first was blocked by Connel and from the rebound his shot hit the post and went clear. On 77, Dan smith got in a header from a Harrison free kick but it went just wide of the target. Gateshead rallied again on 86 as Kanda unchallenged headed a Dean Briggs cross over the bar. On 87 in what proved to be the last chance of the game Harrison won the ball in front of the Gateshead box his lay off to Burrell was shot just over the cross bar.
Final score Dunston 0 Gateshead 2
This was an entertaining and enjoyable game for both spectators, 440 through the gates, and the players as both sides committed themselves, on this performance Dunston and their new signings are looking good , although there is always room for improvement which can be ironed out in the up-coming games and training sessions.
Dunston UTS: Connell (Cpt), Pearson, Halliday, Hodgson (Martindale, 46), Wilkinson, Gilhespy (Heslop, 46),
Briggs, Burrell (Clark, 69), Richardson (Bulford, 46), Morien, Smith (Wilson, 46).
Gateshead: Russell (MacDonald, 78), Baxter, Clark (Curtis, 46), Buddle, Pattison (Perry 66) Ramsden (Chandler, 57), McLaughlin (Kanda, 80), Allen (Briggs, 66), Philips (Hailes 73) Gillies, Shaw (Ramshaw, 57).
Scorers: Phillips (9), Shaw (17)
Report By T.C.
Match Pictures ...HERE
Next Home Game.
Friendly No 2 - Dunston UTS vs Worksop Town on Saturday 18th July 1:30pm KO
No comments:
Post a Comment