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A fresh-faced Gateshead side were dealt a heavy defeat at league favourites Chesterfield.
Rob Elliot’s side found themselves four behind at half time via goals from Will Grigg, Tom Naylor and Michael Jacobs, before Grigg netted his hat-trick from the penalty spot to make it five in the second half.
The Heed arrived with new faces in the squad in the wake of a raft of injuries and departures, with loanees Eddie Beach and Jack Stott making their full debuts while Lirak Hasani joined the starting 11 following his re-call from South Shields.
A relatively quiet opening 10 minutes gave way to the opening goal of the night shortly after, with Grigg on hand to slot home from close range after a wide free-kick was deflected into his path in the penalty area.
The former Sunderland forward was denied a second 20 minutes in by Beach at his near post, though Naylor would beat the Chelsea loanee to make it two with 34 minutes on the clock.
Gateshead were dealt a swift double blow to send them into half time chasing a four-goal deficit, with Grigg sending in via the post before the hosts grabbed another straight from kick off as Jacobs slid past Beach.
Grigg was presented with the chance to get his hat-trick from the penalty spot seven minutes into the second half when Connor McBride was penalised for a foul in the penalty area, and the Northern Irishman sent high into the net to capitalise.
The Heed’s best chance of the night fell Marcus Dinanga’s way when Luke Hannant found him 10 yards out with a pinpoint cross, but the striker couldn’t quite connect and the ball bounced past the far post.
Ben Worman and Will Constantin made their debuts during the second period though they couldn’t help reduce the deficit as Gateshead returned to Tyneside with a hefty defeat.
Gateshead: Beach, Storey, Jobe, Richardson, Hunter (Thompson, 86’), Hannant, Booty, Stott (Constantin, 63’), Hasani, McBride (Worman, 75’), Dinanga.
Substitutes: Bond, Lowery.
Yellow Cards: Richardson (26’)
Chesterfield: Tyrer, Horton, Jacobs, King, Mandeville (Quigley, 77’), Naylor, Oldaker, Palmer, Williams, Colclough (Berry-McNally, 31’), Grigg (Banks, 77’).
Substitutes: Dobra, Sheckleford.
Goals: Grigg (12’, 45+2’, 54’), Naylor (33’), Jacobs (45+3’)
Yellow Cards: Oldaker (8’)
Attendance: 7,063 (112 Gateshead)