GATESHEAD missed out on a chance to climb level on points with leaders Forest Green in the Vanarama Conference.

Despite bouncing back from falling behind in the fourth minute to a Stefan Payne free-kick to lead 2-1 at half-time, Dover Athletic climbed in to the play-off places by winning 3-2.

Simon Ramsden had cancelled out Payne’s opener in the 16th minute when his volley flew in and former Hartlepool youngster Nathan Buddle headed the Heed in to the lead nine minutes before the break.

But Dover found an extra gear after the break and followed up Aswad Thomas’ equaliser with a header from Jack Parkinson ten minutes from time to leave Gateshead defeated.

The Tyneside outfit’s boss Malcolm Crosby told the club website: “We did fantastic to make it 2-1, but I've got to say in the second-half we just never got going at all. All credit to Dover, but I'm very disappointed.

“At the end of the day we never got hold of the ball, we didn't pass it very well. I can't make people get the ball down and pass it.

“As a whole the team didn't have control of the ball and when that happens you're always going to be defending. We ended up very deep in our own half.”

Gateshead: Russell; Baxter, Buddle, Clark, Cranston, Chandler (Marwood 61), Gillies, Phillips (Shaw 67), Ramsden, McLaughlin, Bowman. Subs (not used): Curtis, MacDonald, Allen.

RUSS WILCOX has called for patience from fans after chants for the York City boss to be sacked for the second home game in a row.

Wilcox was encouraged by his side’s performance against Cambridge United despite a sloppy finish which saw his side let a two-goal lead slip late on in League Two.

A section of supporters called for him to go after becoming frustrated with the way the Minstermen scored two shortly after half-time only to throw the victory away by conceding two inside the last 20 minutes.

Wilcox told the York Press: “The negativity doesn’t help anybody. The players got edgy on the pitch and, sometimes, fans have to be patient and appreciate we have got key players out.

“Everybody will have seen how much we have missed Michael Coulson because he was outstanding and every team has little spells they go through. Cambridge have only won one game in nine, like us, but they’re not shouting from the rooftops.”

Coulson had put the home side in front at Bootham Crescent when he struck a low drive beyond goalkeeper Sam Beasant five minutes after the break.

John McCombe looked to have put City further on course for victory when he curled in a second four minutes later.

But Cambridge hit back by reducing the arrears 19 minutes from time when Mark Roberts tapped in before Barry Corr scored his sixth goal in five games to complete the comeback.

Wilcox said: “That first hour we were outstanding. The turning point in the game was Michael Coulson coming off but we have to look at the bigger picture with him. If we can reproduce that first hour we’ll win games but the last half hour was disappointing.”

York: Flinders; McCoy, McCombe, Lowe, Ilesanmi, Collins, Penn, Berrett, Coulson (Godfrey 68), Turner (Sinclair 75), Straker (Carson 79). Subs (not used): Swan, Thompson, Ingham, Tutonda.