Match Report: Oliver Spark

Gateshead fell to a 0-3 defeat by Carlisle in front of a huge Boxing Day crowd.

Gateshead lined up in front of a 4,492-strong crowd on Boxing Day at the GIS. The Heed started with four changes to the eleven, with Ibrahim Bakare, Tyrelle Newton, Curtis Edwards and Harry Chapman coming into the side.  

The Heed started brightly, and had a lot of success on the left-hand side with Kain Adom, David Ferguson and Josh Home linking play well to test Carlisle early.  

In the tenth minute Carlisle had their best chance so far, breaking on the left wing before Regan Linney played in Jordan Jones with a precise through ball, but Bakare was able to cover well and clear the danger.  

In the fifteenth minute, Regan Linney hit a low, angled shot from 20 yards out, which flew past the far post.  

Gateshead had the lion’s share of pressure in the match leading up to the twenty-minute mark and looked dangerous going forward, but couldn’t find the opener. 

Carlisle thought they’d found the breakthrough in the 22nd minute as Linney finished after being played in by Elliot Embleton. Linney was ruled offside and play resumed, with Carlisle beginning to find some rhythm after the Heed dominated the first 20 minutes.  

Play was stopped in the 30th minute as Harry Chapman went off with an injury. Kyle Hurst came on to replace the winger as we continued to search for the breakthrough. 

Soon after the break in play, Carlisle had a chance in the box but Bakare did well to cover and win the ball back. The centre-back then set Gateshead away with Josh Home. The midfielder found Adom, whose low shot flashed past the near post. 

Unfortunately, at the other end, Bakare made a mistake in possession in the middle of the box, the ball was taken off his toe by Elliot Embleton who curled the ball round Brooks to give the visitors the lead.  

In the 40th minute, Carlisle looked to press home their advantage. Harvey Macadam took the ball on the edge of the area and let fly with a shot that went narrowly over the crossbar. 

After Gateshead worked their way down to the other end of the pitch with a slick move through the centre of the pitch, Kian Pennant was left with the ball at his feet at the edge of the area. His effort skimmed the crossbar as it went out for a goal kick.  

At the end of the first half, the Heed looked to rediscover the energy that saw them start the half so well. After another well-worked move on the left, Adom’s shot was saved comfortably by Breeze in the Carlisle goal and was the last action before the halftime whistle.  

Play resumed under the lights at the GIS with no changes at halftime. Carlisle’s Jack Ellis scampered into the box and beat several Gateshead players before seeing the ball smothered by the waiting Brooks. 

Josh Williams was the next Carlisle player to have a shot on the Gateshead goal, from just inside the area at a tight angle. Williams let fly, and Brooks was called into action to make a great save and push the ball behind for a corner.  

Jacob Butterfield sent on Frank Nouble and Will Flint for Edwards and Newton. 

On the 70-minute mark, Kian Pennant tangled with Regan Linney in the Carlisle area, and the referee pointed to the spot. Linney stepped up to convert the penalty, sending Brooks the wrong way.  

Shortly after, Gateshead had a chance of their own to peg Carlisle back. Pennant slid in Hurst who let fly on an effort that smashed the underside of the crossbar and was scrambled away by the visitors.  

Carlisle put the game to bed in the 88th minute. Two former Gateshead players combined; Callum Whelan’s effort was saved by Brooks and the ball fell kindly for Luke Armstrong who followed in to make it three.

The game clicked over 90 minutes and into five minutes of added time after a second half that lacked the tempo of the first half and was only punctuated by two more goals from the visitors. Adom was forced off in the last minute of added time with an injury. 

Gateshead showed the best of themselves in the first half of the initial 45 but were punctured by Carlisle’s goals. It ended in defeat in front of a packed GIS, 0-3.  

Attendance: 4,492 (3,500 Carlisle).  

Gateshead FC Lineup: Tiernan Brooks, Aidan Elliott-Wheeler, Kenton Richardson (C), Ibrahim Bakare, David Ferguson, Tyrelle Newton (Will Flint 66’), Josh Home, Curtis Edwards (Frank Nouble 66’), Harry Chapman (Kyle Hurst 32’), Kain Adom, Kian Pennant 

Substitutes (unused): Preston Leech, Jacob Butterfield, Max Melbourne, Callum Bone 

Yellow Cards: Kain Adom (90’) 

Carlisle United Lineup: Gabriel Breeze, Cameron Harper, Morgan Feeney (C), Aaron Hayden, Regan Linney, Elliot Embleton (Callum Whelan 74’), Jack Ellis (Bevis Mugabi 86’), Alex Gilliead, Jordan Jones (Luke Armstrong 59’), Josh Williams, Harvey Macadam 

Substitutes (unused): Harry Lewis, David Ajiboye, Georgie Kelly, Stephen Wearne 

Goals: Elliot Embleton (36’), Regan Linney (71’ (P))