Gateshead hope to re-ignite promotion push at York City (From York Press)

Gateshead hope to re-ignite promotion push at York City

11:17am Wednesday 22nd February 2012 in News By Steve Carroll, Sports reporter

GATESHEAD are hoping hit-man Jon Shaw will have recovered from injury to help reignite their stuttering Blue Square Bet Premier promotion push at York City tonight (kick off 7.30pm).

The 30-goal striker, who spent eight games on loan at the Minstermen in 2003/4 under former boss Chris Brass, missed Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Forest Green after failing a fitness test on a troublesome groin problem.

Shaw, who scored a hat-trick in Gateshead’s 3-2 win over York at the International Stadium in September, limped out of Heed’s FA Trophy victory over Alfreton Town and travelled to the West Country but did not play.

A scan has revealed no significant damage, however, and manager Ian Bogie is crossing his fingers that Shaw’s return can ease his crisis up front.

Yemi Odubade was his only fit front-man at Forest Green with Liam Hatch, recently recruited from Darlington, also missing with a calf injury that will keep him out of tonight’s clash at Bootham Crescent.

Bogie failed to bring in ex-Sheffield Wednesday and Brentford striker Lloyd Owusu on a short-term loan and reckoned that, had Shaw played at Forest Green, his side would have come away with three points.

In the event, it was York City’s Liam Henderson, on loan at Forest Green and Gateshead born, who got the winner at the New Lawn – leaving the Tynesiders in eighth place in the table and with Bogie reflecting that only a win will do against Gary Mills’ men.

“The defeat has heaped more pressure on the game against York at Bootham Crescent, which was already a big one,” he said.

“We have to go there and win to stay in contention. The bottom line is there is no margin for error, we have to put results together.”

The Heed don’t go into the game in the best of form, though.

The win at Alfreton was their first in six and, in the league, they are without a victory in their last four games. It has been five matches since Gateshead kept a clean sheet but, despite their recent struggles, only Fleetwood, Wrexham, Southport and Kidderminster can match or better the eight wins they have picked up on the road this season.

match facts

THIS is Gateshead’s third Conference visit and City have won on the two previous occasions.

In 2009/10, Alex Lawless scored the only goal of the game and the corresponding game last term finished 2-1, with Jonathan Smith and Leon Constantine (penalty) on target.

The line-up on March 1, 2011, was: Ingham, Darville, Parslow, C Smith, Meredith, Kerr (Boucaud), Chambers (Reed), J Smith, Till, Rankine (Carruthers), Constantine.

Gateshead made 23 Football League trips (1929 to 1959) and in the series City won 12 times with eight draws.

The biggest success was 5-1 in 1937/8 and the North-East club’s last win at York was 2-1 in 1952/3.

Players who have appeared for both clubs include Ian Winters, Kevin Dixon, Paddy Atkinson, Nicky Peverell, Andy Ferrell, Craig Nelthorpe, Steve Bowey, Mark Robinson, Phil Turnbull, Chris Carruthers and Jon Shaw.

It happened on February 22

1958: City ended a run of ten League games without a win in Division Three North when they beat Crewe Alexandra 4-3 at Gresty Road with Terry Farmer (2), Norman Wilkinson and Peter Wragg on the scoresheet.

1964: Billy Rudd scored the goal that earned a 1-0 Fourth Division victory at Hartlepools.

1975: A 3-1 win at Millwall lifted City up to 14th in Division Two (Championship) in Wilf McGuinness’ first match in charge. Scorers were Chris Jones (2) and Micky Cave.

1982: City gained their first home win in 13 games when they beat Port Vale at Bootham Crescent thanks to goals from Gary Ford, below, and Derek Hood (penalty). The crowd for this Fourth Division encounter was 1,938.

1997: A Nigel Pepper penalty gained City a 1-1 draw at Walsall in Division Two (League One).

2003: A 1-1 home draw against Bury watched by 4,115. Jon Parkin netted from the penalty spot in this Third Division (League Two) match.

2005: City gained their first win under Billy McEwan when they beat Exeter City 1-0 at St James’ Park, with Dave Merris the marksman.

Compiled by David Batters