Match Preview: Jack McGraghan

Owen Oseni’s double saw Gateshead secure a fifth pre-season win from six as Carlisle United were defeated at Gateshead International Stadium.

The forward’s early second-half brace put The Heed in control, though the scoreline could have been higher with Luke Hannant sending two penalties wide in either half.

Rob Elliot named new signing Jacob Butterfield in his starting 11 for the first time, with the midfielder signing earlier in the day after departing Scunthorpe United in the summer.

Butterfield was the first to register a shot on target for either side, sending a 25-yard effort into the arms of Carlisle United goalkeeper Gabriel Breeze.

George Kelly came close for the visitors with 12 minutes on the clock on the counter attack when he curled just wide of goal, before Trialist did the same for Gateshead after being set up by Butterfield on the edge of the box.

Oseni threatened to get his name on the scoresheet on the half-hour mark when he met Callum Whelan’s cross at the back post, but headed wide.

The hosts were then awarded a penalty when Will McGowan was brought down in the penalty area, though the score remained goalless as Hannant sent his spot kick wide of the left-hand post in the final action of note in the first half.

Gateshead got the opening goal three minutes after the restart however, when Oseni was picked out by Butterfield before cutting onto his left foot and firing low past Breeze via a slight deflection.

Tiernan Brooks was called upon moments later to preserve his side’s lead when Kelly tried to squeeze past him from a tight angle, allowing Oseni to double the lead with 57 minutes gone when he slotted home Trialist’s low cross from the left flank.

The Heed were then awarded a second penalty two minutes later when Oseni was felled in the area, though this time the woodwork denied Hannant from 12 yards to keep the score at two-nil.

Former Gateshead forward Luke Armstrong then saw a shot cleared off the line by Joe Grayson, having already beaten Brooks, while at the other end a substitute Trialist saw his close-range effort held by Breeze.

Charlie Wyke came off the bench to crash a point-blank shot against the woodwork for Carlisle midway through the second half, while Trialist was again denied by Breeze in a one-on-one situation as both sides looked for the evening’s third goal.

The score remained at two however, with Gateshead seeing out their fifth win from six pre-season games so far.

Gateshead: Brooks, Storey (Tinkler, 69’), Grayson, Richardson, Hannant, Booty, Whelan, Butterfield (Pani, 60’), Trialist (Thompson, 69’), McGowan, Oseni (Trialist, 60’).

Substitutes: Trialist, John.

Goals: Oseni (48’, 57’)

Carlisle United: Breeze, Harper (Neal, 46’), Lavelle (Hayden, 60’), Kelly (Wyke, 60’), Butterworth (O’Donoghue, 60’), Charters (Davies, 60’), Ellis, McGeouch (Vela, 46’), Mellish, (Thomas, 46’), Barclay, Armstrong.

Substitutes: Smith, Allan, Hetherington.

Attendance: 668 (283 away)