Former Newcastle United defender Mike Williamson warns Gateshead against National League North play-off semi-final complacency at Boston United

The two sides have already met twice in the league this season and it was the Heed that came out on top on both occasions.

Nicky Deverdics, JJ O’Donnell and Dom Tear were all on target in a 3-0 win at the International Stadium in September and Jordan Preston found the net Gateshead matched that score-line to complete a league double over the Pilgrims in February.

However, Williamson urged his players to avoid reading too much into the league fixtures against Saturday’s opponents as they look to move within 90 minutes of a possible return to the National League.

Speaking to The Echo, he said: “The lads are in good spirits and training has gone really well this week.

“Obviously, they have taken confidence from the win at Brackley, but we have moved on from that.

“Boston have some very good players; they are a strong side and they finished where they did in the league because of that.

“The two games in the league season mean nothing going into Saturday’s game.

“If anything, it gives them the edge because they will be up for the fight.

“We can’t afford to allow any complacency to creep in because we will be done if we do.

“It’s going to be a very, very tough game, but we are ready for the challenge.”

If there is one negative for Williamson and his players, it will be the absence of any travelling supporters at the Jakemans Stadium.

All play-off fixtures across the National League’s three divisions are being played behind closed doors in line with the government’s Covid-19 regulations for the return of elite sport.

That means Gateshead supporters, as they were last weekend for the penalty shoot-out win at Brackley, will be limited to cheering on their side from afar – but Williamson is keen to give the Heed Army reason to cheer by securing a place in the play-off final.

“For me, the board of directors have been different class and they all have the community at heart,” he explained.

“That’s the driving force for all of us and that inspires me.

“I want to achieve what we set out to achieve for this group of players, but we all want to do it for the supporters, the directors and the club as a whole.

“In difficult times like we are currently in, and we are still going through, we can give our supporters a little bit of relief and give them something to cheer.

“That is what we will be trying to do on Saturday.”

Dom Tear will be the only absentee from the Gateshead squad for the game as they look to set up a final meeting with either Altrincham or a York City side managed by former Heed boss Steve Watson.

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