Gateshead 0 Histon 3

Aug 9 2009 Sunday Sun

GATESHEAD got an early Blue Square Premier wake-up call when they went down heavily on the opening day against Cambridgeshire outfit Histon.

The Tynesiders had not lost a league game at home since September – a run of 18 games – but that all came to an end against the Stutes.

The scoreline flattered the visitors, who broke the deadlock in first-half stoppage time and then scored twice in the last 10 minutes.

The manner of the goals conceded, however, would be a concern to Gateshead manager Ian Bogie, whose first two seasons at the helm brought back-to-back promotions.

The first came from poor defending at a corner, the killer second when central defender Carl Jones was out-muscled by Bradley Odei, and the third when Danny Wright was left unmarked.

Between those aberrations Gateshead competed well and certainly didn’t deserve to be trailing at half-time, though they lacked an attacking threat after the break.

Bogie pulled no punches for what he believed to be a poor showing from his side, and has demanded an immediate improvement.

“We go to Luton Town next weekend and if we put in a performance like that we will be in the Guinness Book of Records for the record Conference defeat,” he said.

“If we’re not up for games we’ll get steamrollered. It was a very poor performance against Histon, who were allowed to bully us and dictate the play.

“We didn’t show enough quality on the ball, didn’t defend properly and need more grit and determination, though this is only the first game of a long season.

“I believe in this set of players, but they have to believe in themselves. Everyone is down after this result, but we will bounce back.”