WALLINGTON were left scratching their heads to how they lost their match-up with Gateshead Rutherford.

In a game they dominated and led three times, they ended up on the losing side as Rutherford battled back on all occasions before finishing as 5-3 victors.

A number of opportunities were carved out by the hosts with Dan Thompson particularly guilty of wastefulness in front of goal, with strike partner Kyle Reardon and Kraig Willis also unable to convert their chances.

Gateshead had a couple of chances to take the lead, but Thompson took the first opening that came his way to give his side the advantage. However, a long ball from the back caught Wallington out and it was soon level pegging.

The home side went into the break ahead at 2-1 as Reardon controlled a ball and fired it across the face of the goalkeeper.

Yet Rutherford equalised for a second time after the break, a header across goal tapped home.

Wallington were well on top, though, and led for a third time as Thompson rose to thump home Brad Richardson’s great cross into the area.

Gateshead were forced to reshuffle their pack when two players picked up injuries, but they were again level when they broke at pace and won a penalty when Nick McClughlin was deemed to have brought down his opposite number.

The penalty was scored, and it gave Rutherford the impetus to push on and notch another two goals past stand-in goalkeeper Alex Slack to make it four points from six against Wallington.

The Greens did bounce back on Wednesday evening and recorded a 3-2 victory over Percy Main Amateurs, Reardon with two goals and Richardson with the other.