Match Report: Jack McGraghan

Gateshead kicked off their 2026/27 pre-season schedule with a commanding 6-0 win at Blyth Town.

Four first half goals set the tone in Blyth, before a late Callum Bone brace made it six to start things on a positive note in Lee Cattermole’s first friendly as manager.

Cattermole opted to field two entirely different sides in either half in the pre-season opener at Gateway Park, with two trialists starting in the opening 45 as well as first-team coach Martin Smith appearing on the pitch.

The marker was laid down as early as eight minutes in when Ash Boatswain opened the scoring, turning inside the box and firing a low shot in at the near post to make it one-nil.

That lead was doubled on 21 minutes as Trialist B struck in remarkable fashion, taking a touch into space and sending a rocket crashing in off the upper stanchion from 25 yards out.

Billy Chadwick combined with Dom Telford for the latter to slot home for a third from close range nine minutes later, and Adam Desbois was required at the other end to get down to his right and parry a Blyth header clear.

Chadwick sent a shot inches wide from the edge of the box shortly afterwards, before Telford turned provider to tee up Trialist A, who converted on the slide at the back post for four.

A full 11-man change at the break gave Cattermole a chance to see the rest of his Gateshead squad in action, including appearances for academy duo Robert Leach and Harrison Price.

Tyrelle Newton came close to notching a screamer to rival Trialist B’s first half strike, only for his 25-yard effort to crash against the bar.

Levi Amantchi threatened on numerous occasions throughout the second half, but it would be Bone who scored a fifth, squeezing home at the near post to add his name to the scoresheet before grabbing a sixth from Harry Chapman’s rebounded free-kick just before the full time whistle.

Gateshead (first half): Desbois, Ferguson, Trialist A, Williams, Home, Smith, Lowery, Chadwick, Boatswain, Trialist B, Telford.

Gateshead (second half): Jameson, Price (academy), Trialist C, Leach (academy), Lavery, John, Anifowose, Chapman, Newton, Bone, Amantchi.

Substitutes: Dore (academy), Payne (academy), Spence (academy), Comp (academy), Lish (academy).

Goals: Boatswain (8’), Trialist B (21’), Telford (28’), Trialist A (45’), Bone (82’, 89’)