Gateshead Ladies manager Simon Johnson was ‘over the moon’ with his side’s 7-3 win at Gateshead Leam Rangers Women on Sunday.
The Heed found their rhythm following two defeats in a row, putting their fellow title contenders away in style with a six-goal second half display.
“I’m over the moon,” said Johnson.
“It’s always good to get three points on the board, especially when we’ve had a sticky patch and have had to weather the storm.
“I was pleased with the performance all round in terms of what we want to do in the final third, we created loads of chances and we scored goals.
“It has been tough and I think it’s the first time where we’ve had a couple of defeats, because the team last year were used to winning every week.
“It’s credit to the attitude and resilience of the group.
“We worked really hard in Tuesday’s training session to implement that on a Sunday and we’re now starting to take the opportunities we’re creating and show that ruthlessness.”
Johnson’s side found themselves a goal down in the first half, before Montserrat Lomeli’s leveller ensured the honours were even at the break, before six second half goals blew Leam Rangers away.
“I wasn’t too concerned when we conceded. because it was pretty much the run of the play,” revealed Johnson.
“I knew we would get chances and we could have even went into half time two or three one up, though equally they had some key chances.
“At half time we addressed how we could be smarter and set traps in how we wanted to press, especially in letting them play out and then pressing.
“In the second half we did that really well and the front three worked on letting them play that first pass out and then working hard, backed up by central midfielders and full backs stepping up.
“We won the ball back for the last goal because we pressed high, they’ve made a mistake and we’ve capitalised.
“That 15 minutes at half time was good for us, and ultimately won us the game.”