Match Report: Oliver Spark

Gateshead and Aldershot battled out a hard-fought draw in what will go down as one of the most entertaining games of the season at the GIS.  

Gateshead returned home today intent on keeping the run of form going that saw them achieve back-to-back bank holiday victories.  

The Heed wasted no time in doing this, with a flying start giving Kain Adom a chance on the right wing. The winger was afforded a lot of time as the home team caught the Shots off guard, but our number seven dragged his shot wide of the far post.  

It wasn’t long until Gateshead broke Aldershot’s line again with a perfectly flighted ball landing at Frank Nouble’s feet. His holdup play was excellent, and he played through Kyle Hurst, who wasted no time in sliding the ball under Aldershot’s Marcus Dewhurst.  

The first fifteen minutes of the match ended with both teams stealing possession from each other but no more chances created.  

The same continued until the nineteenth minute, Aldershot’s Josh Barrett got the ball in the corner and floated a cross towards Kwame Thomas who was waiting at the back post for an easy headed finish.  

In the twenty-sixth minute, Aldershot built up their play in our final third, and their captain Cameron Hargreaves was able to get his shot away. An unfortunate deflection from Connor Pani helped the ball on its way past Brooks to give the visitors the lead.  

Kyle Hurst won a free kick on the left edge of the penalty area which was left for Harry Chapman to line up. The direct effort took a touch on the way through as it bounced narrowly past the far post. The resulting corner was headed into the side netting by Callum Johnson.  

Great play from Adom led to a flurry of shots on the Aldershot goal as The Heed looked to pile the pressure on at the end of the half. The whistle blew after a promising final spell for the home team. 

No changes were made by either side at half time, and the quick tempo of the match continued with attacks and counterattacks not affording either team a rest.  

The Heed took advantage of the open game and really turned the pressure on to start their turnaround. Harry Chapman slid the ball through to Kyle Hurst, who had no problem rounding the keeper and slotting the ball home to level the score.  

Harry Chapman then turned scorer as Hurst’s shot was blocked by the keeper after a great through-ball from Fenton John. Harry Chapman was there to fire in the rebound and retake the lead for Gateshead as we piled on the pressure.  

Aldershot recovered and earned themselves spells of attacking play as Max Sheaf and Josh Home were brought on to keep the midfield strong.  

Josh Barrett had a direct freekick shot rebound against the post and come back into a dangerous area. Hady Ghandour was there to follow in and make the score level again at three-three.  

Kain Adom then had a chance at the other end, showing incredible skill to work the angle after beating a couple of Aldershot defenders to get the ball out of his feet and in a shooting position. His powerful shot was blocked by the keeper and the danger was cleared. 

The game carried on at a great pace, Aldershot having a couple of free-kicks that the home team dealt with, and Gateshead having their own chances shut down by the Aldershot backline.  

Five minutes of stoppage time were added and Gateshead remained solid at the back, shutting down numerous Aldershot attacks as the game opened up. However, the last Aldershot corner saw a Kwame Thomas header cleared off the line. The danger wasn’t cleared and Clarridge poked the ball home, but it was ruled out for a clash of heads in the box.  

After the late drama and all-around pace of the game, the score ended level and will go down as one of the most entertaining of the season as The Heed showed their quality in parts, and their resilience was there for all to see throughout

Gateshead: Brooks, Johnson, Pani, Richardson, Ferguson, Flint (Home, 62′), John, Adom, Chapman (Sheaf, 70′), Hurst (Bone, 89′), Nouble (Thompson, 89′).

Substitutes: Shelvey, Williams, Fitzhugh.

Goals: Hurst (5′, 60′), Chapman (61′).

Yellow Cards: Flint (45′), John (77′), Adom (77′)

Aldershot Town: Dewhurst, Abrahams (Ghandour (69′), Barrett (Henry, 80′), Clarridge, Hargreaves, Hill, Meerholz, Nightingale, Taylor, Tetek, Thomas.

Substitutes: Nash, Anderson, Mullins, Rai, Widdrington.

Goals: Thomas (19′), Hargreaves (26′), Ghandour (77′)

Yellow Cards: Abrahams (35′), Taylor (58′), Clarridge (72′), Tetek (76′)