Match Report: Jack McGraghan

Gateshead made it five wins from six games at Gateshead International Stadium with a 2-0 victory over Boston United.

Ben Radcliffe’s first senior goal put The Heed in front with 17 minutes on the clock, before Luke Hannant teed up a second from Owen Oseni to send Gateshead up to fifth in the Vanarama National League.

Rob Elliot named three changes from the home defeat to Forest Green Rovers three days prior, introducing Kain Adom, Charlie Colkett and Jacob Butterfield to the starting 11 in Gateshead’s first midweek game of 2024/25 at home.

Radcliffe dealt the first blow on his second start for The Heed to make it one-nil, collecting a loose ball from Butterfield’s corner with his back to goal before shifting onto his right foot and rifling into the roof of the net.

Photo: Ryan McDermott

Gateshead controlled possession throughout the opening 45 as they searched for a second, with Oseni hitting the side netting as well as seeing penalty appeals waved away after he went down under a challenge from Michael Bostwick.

The forward grabbed his fourth goal of the season to make it two just after the half-hour mark, connecting with Hannant’s low cross into the six-yard box to prod into an unguarded net.

Photo: Emilio Kirtley

Adom was denied by a reaction save from Aidan Stone when he tried to add a third just before the break, while Butterfield whipped a 20-yard strike just wide of the far post two minutes after the interval.

Boston began to make forays forward as the second half wore on in their efforts to find a way back into the game, with their best opportunity coming on 69 minutes as Tiernan Brooks denied Jacob Hazel with a smart close-range stop.

Gateshead had more chances to score a third in the final five minutes, with Stone denying substitutes Mark Beck and Jovan Malcolm before Regan Booty slid inches wide with the last kick of the game. 

Gateshead: Brooks, Tinkler, Storey, Radcliffe, Adom (Allan, 61’), Hannant, Booty, Whelan (Newton, 71’), Colkett (Worman, 67’), Butterfield (Beck, 81’), Oseni (Malcolm, 73’).

Substitutes: Basey, Jones.

Goals: Radcliffe (17’), Oseni (34’)

Yellow Cards: Worman (76’), Storey (77’), Allan (80’), Hannant (90+4’).

Boston United: Stone, Aderoju (Mooney, 68’), Bostwick (Leak, 79’), Green, Hazel, Hill, Maguire (Marriott, 68’), Mills, Richards (Ward, 79’), Rowe, Weston.

Substitutes: Craven, Tomlinson, Woods.

Yellow Cards: Green (46’), Mills (83’).

Attendance: 1,183 (107 away)