Match Report: Oliver Spark

Gateshead were rewarded with a winning end to preseason after a hard-fought win at Blackwell Meadows

Gateshead started quickly once again in preseason with Jovan Malcolm showing excellent hold-up play twice in the first two minutes. The second time resulted in well-worked play by our attack in the final third and Dom Telford cutting in from the left to squeeze the ball past Mattie Bancroft’s near post.  

The Heed then showed their threat on the counter-attack with link-up play on the left resulting in Harry Chapman’s effort unfortunately hitting the post. Darlington then had a brief spell of success in the final third, an effort curling past the post and Tiernan Brooks showing safe hands to keep out a second effort soon after.  

In the twenty-first minute Darlington’s high press gave Tom Allan a chance on the left, who cut in and curled his shot from the outside of the area to equalise.  

Gateshead looked to respond and set away the lively Malcolm who broke away but was deemed just offside. Up to the half hour mark, The Heed remained solid, working the lines well and having some joy down the flanks.  

A clearance broke to Telford but The Quaker’s cover in central areas shut down the move and created a counter attack that resulted in Brooks being successfully called into action again.  

Darlington continued to cause our defence issues with balls over the top as well as mixing in some crosses that were well defended. Darlo’s second goal came on the 37-minute mark after a corner led to confusion in the six-yard box and the ball fell to Cedric Main to poke home. The Quakers had further encouragement as a diving header went over Gateshead’s bar.  

The Heed responded with pinpoint balls over the top giving our attack chances, the best coming from Kenton Richardson’s ball into Harry Chapman which was worked well but eventually called offside later in the move.  

The second half began with Harry Chapman showing pace down the wing, sending a low cross through the six-yard box, Malcolm’s shot was blocked, and Telford fired narrowly over the bar.  

As the teams closed the hour out, a crowd of five hundred hoped for the second half to ignite like the first forty five. 

Soon after, substitute Kain Adom picked up where Harry Chapman left off and provided a key threat for The Heed as our defence regrouped to contain the high press from Darlo. In quick succession both teams fired shots wide that looked until the last second to be worldies. Aside from this the real quality was to be seen in defence and midfield as both teams battled it out.  

In the seventy-fifth minute Kain Adom’s pace showed, crossing the ball to Trialist whose shot was blocked, the ball landed to Callum Bone whose own shot was saved before he nodded in at close range to wrap up a special week for the academy signing.  

Adom continued his work down the left, utilising his pace once more to round the keeper and slot home to make it three and seal a hard-fought win for The Heed.  

Gateshead: Tiernan Brooks (Shelvey 45’), Will Flint (Ben Williams 76’), Kenton Richardson, Joe Grayson (Oli Thompson (76’), David Ferguson, Josh Home (Callum Bone 45’), Max Sheaf (Connor Pani (45’), Fenton John (Trialist 45’), Jovan Malcolm (54 Trialist), Harry Chapman (Kain Adom 59’), Dom Telford (Frank Nouble 59’). 

Goals: Telford (6’), Bone (75’), Kain Adom (88’)