Gateshead 3 Grays Athletic 0

Nov 22 2009 Sunday Sun

A DARYL CLARE hat-trick saw Gateshead move five points above the relegation zone with a comfortable win over third-bottom Grays Athletic.

Clare struck a superb seventh-minute opener, made it two after Grays striker Fola OniBuje had been sent off and then deflected Craig Baxter’s shot into the net for his treble.

Grays, fielding five new players, were all at sea early on with Kris Gate firing wide after Preston Edwards’ save had prevented an own goal from Alain Logombe.

Clare then ran on to a long ball into the right channel and cut inside past Danny Bunce to curl a left-foot shot into the far corner.

Graeme Armstrong then missed a sitter when he put a nine-yard free-header against the post from Craig Baxter’s pinpoint cross.

Armstrong dragged a shot wide as Gateshead’s early dominance subsided, and only a fine reaction save from Paul Farman denied Grays an equaliser.