GATESHEAD’S penchant for conceding late goals, particularly at home, threatens to derail their Conference Premier promotion charge.
The Tynesiders have conceded goals in the last 10 minutes in six of their last seven league and cup games at the International Stadium.
Three of those have proved costly, and none more so than on Saturday when the great Gateshead giveaway reached a new low.
Seemingly home and hosed at 3-1 up against a side with one of the worst away records in the division, the Heed contrived to throw away two points.
Poor marking saw Richard Pacquette set familiar late alarm bells ringing on 83 minutes, and Lincoln were handed the equaliser gift-wrapped four minutes later.
Tim Deasy, an FA Trophy shoot-out hero at Braintree four days earlier, was culpable as his clearance rebounded off James Curtis for Sam Smith to shoot into an empty net.
Gateshead’s rhythm had been affected by the 70th-minute dismissal of lively midfielder James Marwood, sent off along with City’s Alan Power.
But there could be no excuse for the late capitulation.
Instead of maintaining fourth place with victory, Gateshead dropped to sixth.
“At 3-1 we were comfortable, and while the sending-off changed the whole dynamics and shape of the game we should have seen it out,” said Gateshead boss Ian Bogie.
“Two defensive errors saw us throw away the game, and only Tim Deasy knows why he did what he did for the equaliser.
“I’m bitterly disappointed and it feels like a defeat. We’ve now got to win at Kettering on Tuesday.”
There is no doubt Gateshead missed suspended central defender and captain Ben Clark, Pacquette given a free header to open the scoring on six minutes.
A superb Jon Shaw strike, his 27th of the season, levelled matters and then Yemi Odubade’s glancing header gave the Heed the lead in first-half stoppage time.
Odubade found the far corner from Jamie Chandler’s pass early after the break and Gateshead looked set for a 15th league win.
However, with both sides down to ten men, Pacquette slid home and Smith poached the equaliser.
GATESHEAD: Deasy, Baxter, Curtis, Carruthers, Rents, Chandler, Turnbull, Cummins (Odhiambo 79), Odubade, Shaw (Airey 79), Marwood. Subs (not used): Farman, Brittain, Moore. Sent off: Marwood (70). Booked: Shaw. Goals: Shaw 28, Odubade 45, 53.
LINCOLN CITY: Anyon, Robson, Williams, Gowling, Nutter, Platt (Lloyd 54), Power, Tyrone Thompson, Nicolau (Sheridan 68), Sam Smith, Pacquette. Subs (not used): Draper, Watson, Pearson.
Sent off: Power (70). Booked: Robson, Power.
Goals: Pacquette 7, 82, Sam Smith 87.
Referee: Darren Bond (Lancashire) Attendance: 870
