Maidstone’s woes continued even though they caused Gateshead to sweat a bit with two late goals but this only papered over the cracks.

Maidstone did not have a plan A let alone any others as Gateshead showed why they are in the Play-off positions.

The game started quickly for Gateshead as in the 2^nd minute they nearly took the lead when J.J.O’Donnell running forward from halfway saw his low cross to the near post flicked goal wards by Luke Armstrong but it went just over the bar.

Maidstone had their first half chance in the 10^th minute when Sean Shields cross into the area saw Jake Robinson’s header go over the bar.  Seven minutes later Jack Paxman 30 yards received the ball, his shot was punched away by Aynsley Pears. In the 21^st minute Robbie Tinker’s cross to the far post saw O’Donnell stretching for it but his shot went to towards the corner flag.

In the very next minute Maidstone wasted a glorious chance to take the lead when Shields was put through, he raced into the area and his low shot was saved by Pears legs. This would be costly as in the 25^th minute Luke Molyneux (on loan from Sunderland ) received the ball in the middle of the park, went forward  and saw his shot from 25 yards beat Ross Worner.

A minute later Maidstone nearly equalised when Ollie Muldoon’s free kick into the 6 yard area was sliced over the bar for a corner. Gateshead continued to press forward, and in the 29^th minute Molyneux in the area saw his curling effort hit Simon Walton and go out for a corner.

Two minutes later Scott Barrow saw his free kick from 19 yards punched away by Worner, then two minutes later Gateshead doubled their lead when a short corner to Tinker who from the edge of the area shot into the bottom left hand corner. Gateshead continued to keep the pressure on Maidstone and in the 41^st minute a corner to the back post fell to Barrow but he shot wide of the post.

Half time was approaching, Maidstone had two half chances firstly in the first minute of added on timem, when Dan Wishart on the left ventured into the area, his shot was parried away by Pears and a minute later a Shields cross into the area was headed just over the bar by Elliott Romain.

The half time whistle went and Harry Wheeler would have to rally his troops to get back into the game while Steve Watson would want more of the same for his side.

The second half took a while to get going but in the 56^th minute it became worse for Maidstone when Michael Phillips dawdled on the ball allowing Molyneux to take the ball off him, race into the area and shoot past Worner, this seemed like game over.

In the 68^th minute in a rare attack a cross into the Gateshead area was sliced over the bar by Jon Mellish. Gateshead were now enjoying possession and chances, in the 73^rd minute Scott Boden received the ball right on the edge of the area his shot was saved by Worner.

Then three minutes later Boden controlled a through ball, saw his shot go just past the post. Suddenly out of nothing Maidstone got a goal back when Shields on the left wing beat Tom Devitt, his cross into the 6 yard box was headed goal wards by Romain but Pears pushed it away but only to Jake Cassidy who from 8 yards shot home.

Three minutes Maidstone scored again when Jack Powell’s corner was half cleared back to him, his cross was flicked in by George McLennon.

Gateshead were now getting nervous as Maidstone threw everything at them but their only half chance to equalise came in the 4^th minute of added on time when a Powell corner was headed just wide by Worner.

The final whistle went  and Gateshead came off the pitch relieved that they had held on while Maidstone would wonder if they could have got a draw out of this game but overall this was not a great performance by them. Next stop is Dover away which is really a six pointer.

Maidstone United:

1. R.Worner   3. G.Mclennon (90)  9. E.Romain  10. J.Paxman (61)   16. D.Wishart  18. S.Shields
2. J.Robinson 20. S.Walton 21. O.Muldoon (61)  22. M.Phillips   24. J.Cassidy

Subs Used:  8. J.Powell (61)  28. A.Tajbakhsh (61)  25 .R.Swaine (90)

Subs Not Used:  12. J.Strizovic   29. C.Wassmer

Bookings:  10. J.Paxman (52)

Gateshead:

23. A.Pears 2. R.Tinker  3. S.Barrow  4. J.Hunter   5. F.Kerr  9. L.Armstrong (66)  12. J.Mellish (77)
24. Jj.O’donnell 15. T.White 19. S.Boden  21. Lmolyneux.

Subs Used:  10. S.Rigg (66)   18. T.Devitt (77)

Subs Not Used:  1. M.Foden  7. C.Thomson  11. C.Salkeld

Bookings:  None

Referee:  Mr D.Rock

Assistants:  Mr D.Knox & Mr P.Evans

4^th Official: Mr J.Fagg

Att 2131 (37 from Gateshead )