Boro bounce back to winning ways

"After the game I asked 'Hilly' if it was a case of hit and hope, or if he meant to strike it that well and he just smiled, but that would have to be in the running for goal-of-the-season at any level of football," was Boro boss Kevin Glendon's view of Hill's opener.

"We've had a horrible three weeks, there has been a lot of soul searching and a lot of questions asked by and of everyone, and haven't helped because I've been really uptight and impatient with them, changing things around.

"Today I tried a different tack, I was really relaxed and didn't put any pressure on them, even though a few of them were still a bit nervous, but it seemed to work, we got back to playing in a positive manner, we expressed ourselves and we won, which was my prime concern.

"In particular Scott Wilson got stuck in and won the ball, which put the rest of them on the front foot and they began to play with confidence, which was again important."

In an even first half, Lee Duffy's eighth minute strike served notice that Boro could be effective from distance, however, on that occasion it flew into the grateful arms of the Tynesiders' goalkeeper, Keith Finch.

However, Gateshead were no shrinking violets and for a team with only three league wins to their name, they played their part in an entertaining contest.

In fact it was the visitors who should have taken the lead.

A 14th minute corner was punched clear by Boro keeper Danny Hurst but only as far as the waiting and unmarked Robert Huntley, whose dipping volley beat a diving Hurst, but not hs crossbar.

On 20 minutes Duffy delivered a pinpoint cross from the right to Phil Denney's head, but Finch was in the right place at the right time.

Three minutes later the visitors again had a good opportunity to sieze the lead when Chris Emms' through-ball found Lee Hamilton unmarked and in space, but his shot appeared to catch a divot and went inexplicably wide.

At the other end Denney had another header saved, while strike partner Steve Foster shot narrowly wide.

Just past the half-hour Foster was bundled over in the box, but referee Mr Bainbridge waived away claims for a spot kick.

Minutes later Foster's determination saw him win the ball out on the right and his cross was once more met by Denney's head, but a deflection put it out for a corner.

Boro were forced into their first change at the restart, with Gary Sampson replacing skipper Davey Luker, who had picked up a hamstring injury

But on 63 minutes the break Boro wanted and deserved finally arrived.

Stephen Hill controlled a loose ball and carried into the Gateshead half, looking to lay it off to a teammate.

With his options severely limited he took it a few more yards, looked up, saw the shot was on and let rip a powerful drive that split the air as it flew into the corner of the net.

With Scott Wilson continuing to snarl and snap in midfield, continued possession was guaranteed and further goals appeared imminent.

However, it was the quality of them that came as a surprise.

Ciaran Kilheeney, on for Denney, picked the ball up on halfway before using his pace to outstrip the cover down the left flank and then cutting into the Gateshead box, where he unleashed a low shot that fizzed into the bottom corner with the help of a post.

On 87 minutes Sampson provided the icing on the cake with the third goal.

Again it involved a player examining his options within a split second and then pulling the trigger on a high velocity shot from 25 yards.

From an even contest at the halfway stage, Boro went on to eclipse Gateshead's brave determination with three flashes of brilliance.BORO: Hurst, Duffy, Heald, Kelly, Luker (c), Hill, Wilson, Battersby, Denney, Foster, Halford. Subs: Kilheeney (for Denney, 74), Sampson (for Luker, 45), Forrest (for Battersby, 81)

l On Saturday (December 11) Boro are up in the north east where they face Blyth Spartans.