Match Report: Oliver Spark

Boston’s dominant second-half performance yielded a two-goal win over a weakened Gateshead team in the early kickoff.  

Gateshead returned to the International Stadium after a run of two away wins saw them land in joint 13th in the table. The Heed lined up with a much-changed eleven with Kain Adom, Kenton Richardson, Joe Grayson and Ben Williams all missing out through injury. Josh Home and Kyle Hurst rejoined the lineup to take on Boston, as well as the weather in the early kick-off.  

Kyle Hurst made the first real chance of the match happen, a driving run from the halfway line and a release to Jacob Butterfield. The number ten then teed up Harry Chapman, who cut inside and tried to recreate his goal from Morecambe, but this time his effort went wide of the far post.  

Just after Chapman’s shot, Boston managed to break to the other end, and Matty Carson found himself in space, with a shot that fired narrowly wide.  

Harry Chapman felt contact in the penalty box, but Heed appeals were waved away in the tenth minute. Boston countered quickly, and Jordan Cropper was denied superbly by Tiernan Brooks.  

Then a well-worked move down the left for Gateshead led to David Ferguson whipping in a cross for Kyle Hurst. The midfielder got a toe on it but went narrowly over the top corner.  

Frank Nouble made another break happen on the right. His flick around the corner set Hurst away, who made another powerful run all the way through the Boston half. His low shot was parried by Rhys Lovett, but only as far as Chapman, who was there to fire home. 

Shortly after, Nouble was involved in the penalty area, backheeling to Chapman, who was at the left post again and had his effort blocked and later called offside as Gateshead looked to press home their advantage.  

Lenell John-Lewis was who the ball fell to as Boston broke away into space; however, his low finish was called offside as it hit the back of the net.  

Connor Pani was stretchered off through injury on the 38th minute after being caught on the ball.  

Frank Nouble stepped into centre half, and Lucas Lowery came on to bolster the front line as we looked for stability going into the last portion of the half.  

As we entered five added minutes, Kyle Hurst had his effort from the corner deflected into the side netting. Chapman’s first attempt at the resulting corner was taken again after the wind took it almost back to where it started.  

Within two minutes of coming on, Boston’s Frankie Maguire shot low to the far post from Matty Carson’s cross to level the scoreline on the 49th minute. The sides went into halftime level.  

The first action of the second half came Boston’s way as John-Lewis fired wide at the near post.  

On the 55th minute, Boston’s Kieran Donnelly set off on a winding run down the right wing and carried on into the box. Although there was pressure on him, their number 11 worked with an impossible angle to fire into the roof of the net.  

The first big chance for Gateshead came on the 66th minute, Kyle Hurst was set free for a one-on-one, but his chipped effort was stopped by Lovett on the edge of his box.  

Apart from that, Boston had the lion’s share of possession and pressure after their goal with little reply.  

On the 66th minute, Kyle Hurst broke through and had a one-on-one with the keeper, but his chipped effort was too close to Lovett who had safe hands to deny an equaliser.  

Ten minutes later, Boston’s number 15 Matty Carson whipped another cross to assist yet another of their substitutes. This time Jordy Hiwula finished to put the Pilgrims two ahead.  

Lucas Lowery then had a one-on-one and had his powerful shot blocked by Lovett as he tried to make the most of the opportunity.  

After seven minutes of added on time, Lowery’s chance proved to be the last opportunity for either team. Gateshead’s weakened squad fell to a two-goal defeat despite a valiant first-half performance amid more injuries.  

Gateshead: Tiernan Brooks, Fenton John, Connor Pani (Lowery 40’), Will Flint, David Ferguson (C), Josh Home, Curtis Edwards (Bone 35’), Jacob Butterfield, Kyle Hurst, Harry Chapman, Frank Nouble (Johnson 84’) 

Substitutes: Preston Leech, James Blakely, Jake Lish 

Goals: Harry Chapman 21’  

Yellow Cards: Kyle Hurst 90+3’ 

Boston United: Rhys Lovett, Connor Teale, Zak Mills (C), Greg Sloggett, Dylan Hill, Lenell John-Lewis (Hiwula 68’), Matty Carson, Aelx Lankshear, Jordan Richards (Frankie Maguire 46’), Owen Hampson (Kieran Donnelly 45’), Jordan Cropper (Ben Grist 90’) 

Substitutes: Bobby Jones, Michael Kelly, Rocco Coyle 

Goals: Frankie Maguire 45+4’, Kieran Donnelly 55’, Jordy Hiwula 74’ 

Yellow Cards: Alex Lankshear 90+7’