GATESHEAD suffered a damaging blow to their National League play-off hopes after throwing away a two-goal lead to lose 4-2 at Sutton who remain in the hunt for a top-seven finish themselves.

The Heed, who almost opened the scoring in the 20th minute when Tom White struck a post from 20 yards, grabbed the lead just before the break.

Connor Thomson's low ball across the face of goal was turned home at the far post by Greg Olley, who doubled the visitors' lead a minute after the restart with a fine finish into the bottom-left corner to take his tally to eight for the season.

Sutton then began their fightback with a close-range header from Dylan Kearney in the 51st minute, followed by a James Dobson penalty 12 minutes later for a handall in a crowded penalty area.

Four minutes from time Sutton completed the comeback, with Dean Beckwith heading home a Harry Beautyman corner, with the defender netting another header three minutes later.

Gateshead: Pears; Tinkler, Devitt, Mellish, Barrow, O’Donnell (Salkeld 73), White, Olley, Hunter, Thomson, Rigg (McGeoch 77). Subs (not used): Foden, Maloney, Slater.

MARK Beck's second-half header secured an important 1-0 win for promotion chasers Harrogate against Maidenhead.

Defenders reigned supreme in a first half of few chances. Town's Warren Burrell came closest to breaking the deadlock just before the interval, but his header from George Thomson's free-kick went narrowly wide.

The Magpies started brightly in the second half but soon found themselves behind after Beck converted Thomson's cross in the 54th minute.

Ryan Upward came close to an equaliser after the hour mark, but he was denied by Harrogate goalkeeper James Belshaw tipping his effort onto the bar.

Harrogate move up to sixth while Maidenhead are six points clear of the relegation zone in 18th.

Harrogate: Belshaw; Howe, Langmead, Thomson, Falkingham, Fallowfield, Burrell, Emmett, Kerry, Beck, Muldoon. Subs (not used): Senior, Leesley, Cracknell, Agnew, Williams.

YORK City boss Steve Watson believes his team’s postponed National League North clash at FC United of Manchester should have gone ahead.

The Broadhurst Park playing surface passed two inspections at 10.15am and 1pm, but referee Amy Fearn deemed it “unsafe” an hour before kick-off as a dropped ball failed to bounce in several areas of the pitch and also stopping sharply when kicked along the ground.

But Watson argued that the ground would have improved with players running on it and declared that he had played Premier League games in worse conditions.

“Both managers wanted the game to be played and, personally, I didn’t think it was that bad,” the City boss told the York Press. “But the referee didn’t ask for our opinion - she just explained the reasons and we wouldn’t have been able to change her mind.

“I’ve played in conditions that have been a lot worse, but it boils down to opinions and the only one that matters is the referee’s and you have to respect it. She deemed it unsafe, but there is danger in any game with the ball stopping and somebody getting hurt – that’s the sport.

“I know the rain was relentless and non-stop for three hours, but once the players are on the pitch the stud marks can help drain the water as well.”