Gateshead 3, Grays Athletic 0
Nov 23 2009 The Journal
A DARYL Clare hat-trick saw Gateshead move five points clear of the relegation trap door ahead of tomorrow’s Blue Square Premier derby at York City.
Clare scored a beauty after seven minutes, headed the second early in the second half and then deflected Craig Baxter’s strike into the bottom corner late on.
It was a master-class of finishing from the experienced former Republic of Ireland Under-21 striker who had broken his duck for Gateshead with a brace the previous weekend at Stevenage.
The on-loan Mansfield Town front man was the catalyst for a vital victory against a Grays side in disarray and with just two league wins this season.
At a windswept and rainlashed International Stadium, Gateshead were not at their best but had enough in their locker to beat a Grays side who played most of the second half with ten men.
“The conditions dictated it was never going to be a great game of football,” said boss Ian Bogie. “But all you can ask is to get the three points – to score three goals is a bonus.
“Clare took his goals very well. He is a proven striker at this level and a natural goalscorer whose fitness levels have improved as he has played more games. It was only 1-0 when their lad was sent off but I was confident we would have added to Clare’s first-half strike had Grays kept 11 on the field. Farman made a superb save in the first half but their only other chance came from an Andy Haworth back pass and they lacked a creative force.”
Clare showed all of his guile when he took a long ball down the right channel, checked inside and then curled a left foot shot inside the far post.
It should have been game over minutes later when the unmarked Graeme Armstrong somehow headed a pinpoint Craig Baxter cross against the post from nine yards.
A new-look Grays were shambolic early on but rode their luck and a deflected Glenn Poole free-kick saw Farman make a fine one-handed reaction save.
After Grays striker Fola Onibuje was booked twice in three minutes Clare immediately headed Baxter’s cross from the right into the bottom corner.
Baxter’ 78th-minute angled shot was then turned into the net by the predatory Clare, who is homing in on a double century of Conference goals.
GATESHEAD: Farman, Baxter, Cave, Gate (Francis 82), Curtis , Williams, Haworth, Turnbull, Armstrong (Mackay 64 6), Clare (One 79), Winn. Subs (not used): Provett (gk), Swailes
Bookings: Curtis, Clare Goals: Clare (7, 57, 78)
GRAYS ATHLETIC: Edwards, Logombe, Agombar, Mawer, Bunce, Poole (Slabber 65), Mallman (Rnkovic 56), OniBuje, Cissoko, Bingham, Dean Subs (not used): Crowther, Robinson, Graham
Sent Off: Onibuje (53)
Referee: Dean Moharab (Cheshire) Attendance: 506
