Match Report: Jack McGraghan

Gateshead’s 2025/26 National League Cup season came to a close in a 3-0 defeat to Leeds United U21 at Gateshead International Stadium.

Oliver Pickles’ brace, either side of Jacob Render’s close-range strike, saw Leeds run out victors on Tyneside in the fourth and final group stage game for Alun Armstrong’s men.

The Heed were boosted by the returns of George Shelvey, Kenton Richardson and Tyrelle Newton, who all started after their respective injury lay-offs in recent months, while new signing Aidan Elliott-Wheeler made his bow.

It was Gateshead who applied the early pressure at the GIS, with Dom Telford seeing a 20-yarder tipped over the crossbar by Darryl Ombang two minutes in before Jacob Butterfield and Kain Adom both saw efforts go just wide.

Leeds struck first however on 27 minutes, as Pickles found space in the centre of the pitch before driving through and sending a low shot past Shelvey and into the far corner of the net.

The hosts were left wondering how they hadn’t levelled just before the break though, as Callum Bone and Adom were both denied by blocks from blue shirts at point-blank range after finding space in the penalty area.

The visitors responded in kind just after the half time whistle to rattle the crossbar from distance however, and added a second with 51 minutes on the clock as Render slotted home from close range.

Bone would call Ombang into two smart saves later in the half as Gateshead pressed to halve the deficit, before the midfielder slid substitute Lucas Lowery in on goal to force the Leeds stopper to block once more.

Leeds punished Gateshead’s profligacy shortly afterwards when Pickles sent a rocket into the top-left corner to make it three to the visitors, calling time on The Heed’s National League Cup campaign for the 2025/26 season.

Gateshead: Shelvey, Elliott-Wheeler, Flint, Richardson (Williams, 37’), Ferguson, Butterfield (Home, 75’), Newton (John, 37’), Bone, Telford (Lowery, 75’), Hurst, Adom (Fitzhugh, 46’).

Substitutes: Leech, Edwards.

Yellow Cards: John (61’), Ferguson (61’).

Leeds United U21: Ombang, Brockie (Mills, 71′), Chambers, Cresswell, Enahoro, Firth, Howard (Matykiewicz, 87′), Lienou, Pickles, Render, Wilson (White, 63′).

Substitutes: Cook, Dudley, Lopata-White.

Goals: Pickles (27’, 81’), Render (51’).

Yellow Cards: Lienou (61′), Chambers (61′)

Attendance: 120 (15 away)