Match Report: Jack McGraghan

Gateshead extended their unbeaten start to the National League season to seven games with a 2-0 win over Barnet to remain top of the table.

Goals early in either half from Callum Whelan and Kain Adom earned a fourth win from as many games at Gateshead International Stadium, keeping The Heed top of the table by one point.

The fixture saw Barnet visit Tyneside as the latest team to try and topple Gateshead’s unbeaten run, but it was the hosts who struck within six minutes to lead as Whelan followed up Jacob Butterfield’s strike to slot into an empty net.

Barnet laid claim to the next meaningful chance of the game with 19 minutes gone, only to be denied by a superb save from debutant goalkeeper Harry Moss as he blocked Joe Kizzi’s shot at the back post from point blank range.

The Bees would strike the crossbar later in the half directly from a corner, while at the other end Adom was agonisingly close to making it two-nil after cutting in from the left and sending a curling shot crashing back against the far post.

Adom made his next chance count five minutes after the break to double the lead though, latching onto Jean Belehouan’s header before flicking over his marker and driving into the box before smashing past Nick Hayes at his near post.

Photo: Charlie Waugh

Louis Storey could have added a third six minutes later when a loose ball dropped to him in the box, but the defender sent his volley just over the crossbar to leave a glimmer of hope for the visitors.

That glimmer became less apparent thanks to a series of saves from Moss – the most impressive of which coming on 69 minutes when he spread himself to tip a header against the bar from close range before following up with two saves in the aftermath.

Gateshead still had opportunities to extend their lead as time wore on though, and Owen Oseni came closest when he was teed up in the box by Mark Beck, only to be denied by a last-ditch block on the line after rounding Hayes.

Rob Elliot’s side saw out the remainder of the 90 minutes with Barnet sending a number of balls into the box late on to no avail, retaining their grasp at the top of the table as a result.

Gateshead: Moss, Tinkler (Carr, 88’), Belehouan, Storey, Hannant (Radcliffe, 86’), Adom (Newton, 73’), Booty, Whelan, Worman (Colkett, 53’), Butterfield (Beck, 66’), Oseni.

Substitutes: Basey, McGowan.

Goals: Whelan (6’), Adom (50’)

Yellow Cards: Worman (13’), Whelan (18’), Oseni (31’) 

Barnet: Hayes, Hall-Johnson (Kanu, 57’), Stead (Cropper, 76’), Chapman, Glover, Brunt (Wilkinson, 62’), Hartigan, Shelton, Oluwo, Kenlock (Okimo, 57’), Kizzi.

Substitutes: Gilmour, Rye.

Yellow Cards: Kenlock (55’)

Attendance: 1,431 (148 away)