Match Report: Will Brown

A two-goal comeback from visitors Boreham Wood left Gateshead with only a point to show for their efforts on the opening day of the National League season.

Marcus Dinanga scored the first goal of Gateshead’s National League campaign when he put the Heed ahead with a poked effort in the ninth minute.

Gateshead doubled their advantage seven minutes later when Jordan Hunter converted a rebound which saw him score on his Heed debut.

The visitors pulled one back in the 60th minute when Kwesi Appiah converted his headed effort.

Boreham Wood completed the comeback four minutes into added time when Cameron Coxe volleyed home.

Mike Williamson named a strong XI for the opening Vanarama National League game. Connor McBride, Archie Mair, Regan Booty and Jordan Hunter would all be given their Gateshead debuts while Heed captain Greg Olley would be left out of the squad through injury.

With the first chance of the match Dinanga scored with great composure. A long-ball into the Boreham Wood’s box from Mair was brought down by the Gateshead striker who poked the ball into an empty net.

Mike Williamson’s Gateshead side were firing on all cylinders and soon found themselves with a two-goal advantage. McBride whipped a low cross into the six-yard box which Dinanga got on the end of but Nathan Ashmore was there to make a great save, Hunter followed up on the rebound to put the ball into the back of the visitor’s box.

Stephen Wearne powered forward with the ball before he unleashed a powerful shot from 25-yards that nearly caught Ashmore but the Boreham Wood keeper did just enough to keep the ball out of his net.

The visitors reduced the deficit with a well-worked goal early in the first-half. Erico Sousa found Tom Whelan on the wing who floated a ball into the box which Appiah converted with a strong header.

One minute after coming on to make his debut Timmy Abraham was sent off for a high-foot challenge on Mair in the 84th minute.

Boreham Wood scored four minutes into added time when Sousa’s cross was converted by a first-time volley from Coxe.

Gateshead: Mair, Tinkler, Storey, Booty, Hunter, Pani, Francis, Whelan (Magnay, 45’), Wearne, McBride (Chadwick, 60’), Dinanga (Hannant, 90+2’).

Substitutes: Richardson, Rutledge.

Goals: Dinanga (9’), Hunter (16’)

Yellow Cards: Wearne (61′), Magnay (68′)

Boreham Wood: Ashmore, Ilesanmi, Bush, Whelan, Sagaf, Marsh (Ndlovu, 75’), Fyfield (Coxe, 84’), Agbontohoma, Owens, Sousa, Appiah (Abraham, 81′)

Substitutes: Stephens, Kelly-Evans

Yellow Cards: Owens (5′), Fyfield (36′), Whelan (70′), Ndlovu (90+5′)

Red Card: (Abraham, 84′)

Goals: Appiah (60’), Coxe (90+4′)

Attendance: 1,106 (25 away)