Match Report: Jack McGraghan

Gateshead’s difficult run of form continued with a 3-1 defeat at home to Braintree Town.

The Heed lead at half time through Dan Jones’ header in the 34^th minute, only for three second half strikes from Chay Cooper, John Akinde and Kyreece Lisbie to consign Carl Magnay’s men to a fourth consecutive defeat.

Jamie Bramwell was handed his Gateshead debut in the only change from Saturday’s defeat at home to Maidenhead United, with Braintree making their first visit to Tyneside since 2014.

The visitors threatened early on when Tiernan Brooks was required to parry a free kick clear in the opening few minutes, before Akinde sent a header wide of goal in their efforts for an opener.

Gateshead came close when Ben Worman met Regan Booty’s free kick to head against the crossbar, and they took the lead with 34 minutes gone when Booty’s corner was powered home by Jones in the centre of the penalty area.

Jack Roles sent an effort over the crossbar from distance as the hosts tried to work a second goal, shortly before Luke Hannant’s searching cross just evaded the head of Tyrell Sellars-Fleming at the far post.

Braintree saw a big chance to level pass by one minute before the break however, with brothers Kyreece and Kyrell Lisbie linking up to set the latter up in the box, who sent wide of Brooks’ far post from close range.

It took 12 minutes of the second 45 for the visitors to draw level, countering from Gateshead’s long throw to play Cooper inside the penalty area to curl past Brooks and into the far corner.

Braintree would take the lead from the penalty spot after Tyrelle Newton was judged to have brought an orange shirt down in the box, allowing Akinde to roll into the bottom-right corner to edge The Iron ahead.

The visitors had a third only three minutes later as Cooper turned provider, sending a low ball to the back post for Kyreece Lisbie to tap into an empty net and leave Gateshead with another defeat.

A difficult evening saw The Heed remain in sixth in the National League table, with FC Halifax Town, Rochdale and Altrincham also falling to defeat on the same night.

Gateshead: Brooks, Belehouan (Colkett, 78’), Bramwell, Jones, Hannant, Horton, Booty (c), Roles, Worman (Newton, 62’), Malcolm, Sellars-Fleming (Humbles, 75’).

Substitutes: Bond, Sheaf, McGowan, Thompson.

Goals: Jones (34’)

Yellow Card: Horton (11’)

Braintree Town: Gray, Akinde, Clampin, Cooper, Francis-Clarke, Langston, Lisbie (Judge, 82’), Lisbie (Blackwell, 78’), Marshall-Miranda (Okunowo, 86’), Pinnington, Robinson.

Substitutes: Haxthausen

Goals: Cooper (57’), Akinde (71’, pen), Lisbie (74’)

Yellow Card: Akinde (33’), Marshall-Miranda (55’), Lisbie (67’)

Attendance: 625 (21 away)