Match Report: Gateshead FC

Gateshead suffered a fifth consecutive Enterprise National League defeat as Altrincham took three points at Gateshead International Stadium

Jimmy Knowles’ first half goal was enough to see Alty to victory on Tyneside, despite Pete Jameson saving the forward’s second half penalty.

The Heed made five changes following the weekend’s 4-0 defeat at Wealdstone as Tommy Lavery, David Ferguson, Michael Spellman, Fenton John and Josh Home came into the starting 11 for the 11^th game of the league season.

Gateshead started on the back foot and were under pressure from Altrincham from the off, with Jack Robinson shown a yellow card for a heavy challenge eight minutes in, before Jameson made a crucial one-on-one save to prevent Kane Hemmings from opening the scoring.

Altrincham made amends to take the lead with 21 minutes gone though, as Knowles capitalised on a loose header on the left flank before driving inside the box, beating Alex Lankshear and slotting home at the near post.

The visitors perhaps should have had a second just after the half-hour mark when Knowles was slipped into the box unmarked, but his pull-back for an unmarked Hemmings drifted behind the forward with the goal at his mercy.

A rare sight of goal saw David Eguaibor head Josh Home’s pinpoint cross well over the crossbar for The Heed, and just after half time Lucas Weaver blasted over the crossbar from a tight angle for Alty.

An attritional second half’s big moment came 10 minutes from time when substitute Kyle Ferguson brought down Weaver in the box for a penalty, which Jameson kept out with a fine double save to stop Knowles’ spot-kick before deflecting the rebound wide.

Gateshead were unable to capitalise on their lifeline however, and the final moments of the night slipped away to consign the hosts to a ninth defeat from 11 and bottom spot in the National League table.

Gateshead: Jameson, Lavery (K. Ferguson, 76’), D. Ferguson, Lankshear (c) (Issaka, 85’), Spellman, Home (Lewis-Burgess, 85’), Robinson (Hiwula, 65’), John, McCalmont, Eguaibor (Chadwick, 85’), Supyk.

Substitutes: Phillips, Coyle.

Yellow Cards: Robinson (8’), Spellman (81’)

Altrincham: Firth, Lopata-White, Cooper, Banks, Crawford ©, Kosylo (Reddin, 90’), Barlow (Hinchy, 89’), Khan, Taylor, Knowles, Hemmings (Weaver, 50’).

Substitutes: Isted, Breckin, Kirk, Raymond.

Goals: Knowles (21’)

Yellow Cards: Kosylo (36’), Cooper (67’)

Attendance: 407 (41 away)