The Bulls lost out by the odd goal in five despite taking an early lead through Chris Sharp. Donaldson struck a swift equaliser but a further goal from Marlon Jackson just after half time came between a double from James Brown as Gateshead eased to victory with The Bulls putting in a below par second period.
Martin Foyle made one change with Rod McDonald replacing the missing Stefan Stam in central defence. Former Bull Adam Bartlett kept goal for The Heed in an almost deserted and windswept Victoria Park in Hartlepool.
McDonald got an early touch when Marwood whipped in a cross before fullback Peter Bore closed down Clucas as he shaped to break into the home box. Musa's long throw was cleared for the first corner of the game on four minutes but the cross was cleared.
Clucas and Curruthers combined to feed a ball in to Sharp but Bartlett easily collected his shot. McDonald got in a couple of timely interceptions before Musa burst into the home box but Jackson's first time shot was weak and O'Keefe's header from a Clucas cross was headed at the keeper.
McDonald got in another good block and on the break The Bulls took the lead on 17 minutes when Sharp burst into the box and slipped the ball past Bartlett.
Gateshead responded immediately when Marwood got past two defenders to cross for Ryan Donaldson to finish at the back post. Heed defender Curtis and Bartlett almost conspired to gift an opportunity for Marlon Jackson for a late clearance saved the day.
Gillies saw an effort come back off Bittner's post as play continued to swing from end to end and Marwood, again, showed good pace as The Heed threatened on the flanks. Clucas made a darting run but his low cross was hacked into touch. Then just before halftime The Bulls conceded a poor goal from a corner.
A corner produced a cross, which was not dealt with, and James Brown was left to stab home when unmarked at the back post.
Clucas' cross fell behind Jackson as play entered two added minutes in the first period. Jackson almost put Sharp in on goal and from the resulting corner; Clucas' cross was too deep as the referee blew for teatime.
HT Gateshead 2 Bulls 1
The Bulls were quickly out of the blocks with Musa overlapping deep into The Heed half. Sharp broke into the box from the left and Curtis' challenge might have been penalised had Sharp gone down. Then Jackson brought the Bulls back on level terms.
Curruthers released Jackson and with Clucas unmarked in support Jackson took responsibility and fired past Bartlett from the edge of the box with just a few minutes of the second period played.
Marwood again caused problems and when a shot from Chandler was only beaten out by Bittner, Brown was again poaching to poke home and give the hosts the lead. Curtis was carded for hauling Clucas to the ground as he sped forward. From the free kick Sharp was caught offside.
Curruthers' cross fell behind for a goal kick and O'Keefe's through ball to Jackson ran to Bartlett. Musa was penalised for a shirt pull and the free kick found substitute Cummins who headed wide when well placed. The impressive Marwood got behind Connor but Bittner cut out his cross as The Heed continued to control the first third of the second period.
Bowman was introduced in place of O'Keefe as The Bulls moved to 4-4-2 with Bowman and Jackson up top and Sharpie taking a wider role. Jackson’s low cross resulted in Bowman side-footing wide of the target. Then Jackson produced a chance for Sharp but the shot was wild and off target with just under fifteen minutes remaining.
Bartlett had to dart off his line to smother a shot from Clucas on 85 minutes but real chances for The Bulls were few and far between as the wintery conditions worsened and a surplus of strikers on the field made for little control in midfield. Four added minutes produced only tidy possession football from Gateshead and some hit and hope from The Bulls leaving the 35 HUFC fans in the crowd of just 259 to start the long journey back home.
FT Gateshead 3 Bulls 2
Hereford:- Bittner, Connor, Graham, McDonald, Musa, Curruthers, James, O’Keefe (Bowman 72), Clucas, Jackson, Sharp. Unused. Gallinagh, Heath, McQuilkin, Smikle.
Gateshead:- Bartlett, Boyle, Curtis, Clark, Chandler, Gillies, Turnbull, Marwood, Donaldson, Bore (Cummins 59), Brown. Unused. Nixon, Fowler, Henderson, Everson.
Once The Heed took the lead for the second time on 55 minutes, the introduction of Cummins in midfield coupled with O'Keefe's withdrawal effectively handed control of the game to the hosts and they passed their way to victory as The Bulls four-handed strike force were starved of quality ball and a lack of imaginative play. Individually the central defenders played fairly well but it was fairly apparent that the organisational skills of captain Stam were sorely missed and Kingsley James simply couldn’t get a grip on a game in which he found himself outnumbered.
See you Saturday at The Street.