Match Report: Jack McGraghan

Dajaune Brown’s first Gateshead goal secured a last gasp point at Boreham Wood.

The home side held the advantage from the 26^th minute after Kabongo Tshimanga converted his side’s only shot of the first half, and despite Gateshead’s dominance in possession they seemed to be heading for defeat.

Brown had the final say however, breaking away and slotting home in the last minute of injury time to earn what could prove a crucial point come the end of the season.

The Heed’s visit to the Mangata Pay UK Stadium saw both Kenton Richardson and Regan Booty return to the starting 11, and it was the visitors who looked more threatening early on.

Kain Adom sent a shot just wide of Nathan Ashmore’s far post within four minutes, before Ed Francis called the Boreham Wood stopper into action as his 25-yard effort was parried around the far post.

Marcus Dinanga then sent a header wide after Booty had picked him out in the centre of the penalty area as Gateshead continued to probe, but it would be the hosts who took the lead with 26 minutes on the clock when Tshimanga weaved into the box and slipped in at the near post.

Luke Hannant came closest to levelling things up in the opening 45 when he cracked the crossbar from the edge of the box, though The Heed went into half time behind.

The hosts looked to restrict Gateshead in the final third as the second half begun, sacrificing some attacking threat to give away as little as possible in hopes of holding the lead.

James Montgomery was called into action at the start of the half though, preventing Angelo Balanta from finding the near corner with a low stop as the Boreham Wood man tried to squeeze a shot under him.

The Heed controlled possession for much of the second 45 though were restricted to efforts from distance with the box packed by white shirts, and it took until the 86^th minute to come close when substitute Brown smashed a deflected shot against the post.

Brown got his first goal deep into injury time to secure a hard-fought point, racing onto Dinanga’s knock down to burst clear of the Boreham Wood defence before calmly slotting past Ashmore to spark pandemonium in the away end.

His strike sees Gateshead hold their spot at fifth in the Vanarama National League table, with a home tie against fourth-placed Solihull Moors to come on Tuesday.

Gateshead: Montgomery, Jobe, Storey, Richardson, Whelan, Booty (Worman, 74’), Francis, Adom (McBride, 70’), Hannant, Evans (Brown, 81’), Dinanga.

Substitutes: Hasani, Tinkler.

Goals: Brown (90+5’)

Yellow Cards: Storey (44’) 

Boreham Wood: Ashmore, Balanta (Marsh, 69’), Bush, Coxe, Fyfield, Ilesanmi, Ndlovu (Sagaf, 83’), Payne, Robinson, Sass-Davies, Tshimanga. 

Substitutes: Cullum, Clayden, Whelan. 

Goals: Tshimanga (26’)

Goals: 907 (49 Gateshead)