Match Report: Oliver Spark

Gateshead’s wretched run of form continued as their 10 men were defeated 3-1 by Eastleigh at Gateshead International Stadium.

The Spitfires took a two-goal lead within 23 minutes with goals from Harvey Saunders and Aaron Blair, before Frank Nouble halved the deficit heading into half time.

Fenton John’s red card – receiving his second yellow for simulation – thwarted Gateshead’s revival hopes, with Paul McCallum then striking for Eastleigh in injury time to put the game beyond reach.

Assistant manager Jacob Butterfield led proceedings from the dugout with Alun Armstrong absent due to a family bereavement, making four changes as Tiernan Brooks, Ben Williams, Josh Home, and Nouble all returned to the side.

It was Eastleigh who struck with the first chance of the game on 13 minutes though, with Kieron Evans’ free kick eventually finding Josh Lundstram at the back post who was on hand to square across goal for Saunders to convert.

Blair would add a second for the visitors 10 minutes later, capitalising on a succession of errors in the box as Gateshead attempted to clear their lines before converting Lundstram’s ball across goal to make it two-nil.

Gateshead responded positively though, and Home went close from 20 yards when he forced Nick Townsend to block his drive, before Kain Adom was barged over on the edge of the box when he was set to go clean through on goal from Max Melbourne’s lofted ball.

Melbourne struck the crossbar with the following free-kick, allowing Nouble to follow up and head home to give The Heed hope before the break.

The goal gave the hosts life in attack, and Home came close to an equaliser moments later when he connected with David Ferguson’s reverse ball into the box, only for his first-time shot to deflect over the bar.

The Heed started the second half brightly in front of a raucous crowd, spurred on by the drums. With breaks forward as we looked for the leveller, the intensity was up at the GIS.

After seven minutes of pressure, Fenton John was deemed to have simulated on the right side of the pitch, receiving a second yellow and his marching orders in the 52nd minute.

Curtis Edwards was brought on in the 54th minute, following Ibrahim Bakare, who replaced the injured Ben Williams earlier in the half.

Butterfield rolled the dice from the touchline in the 74th minute, bringing Harry Chapman, Kyle Hurst, and Tyrelle Newton on for Adom, Pennant and Home.

With ten men Gateshead continued to defend resolutely, with all of the back line doing well in shutting down any Eastleigh in the second half.

The game was steady for most of the second half with very few clear-cut chances for either side.

It was in the 90th minute that Eastleigh put the game to bed, feeding the substitute Paul McCallum for an arrowed shot that beat Brooks as it nestled into the far post.

Gateshead gave a battling performance in the second half with ten men but ultimately fell short in their efforts to a 1-3 loss at home.

Gateshead: Brooks, Elliott-Wheeler, Richardson, Williams (Bakare 52’), Melbourne (Edwards 55’), Ferguson, John, Home (Newton 73’), Pennant (Hurst 73’), Adom (Chapman 73’), Nouble.

Substitutes: Leech, Telford

Goals: Nouble (31’)

Yellow Cards: John (17’, 53’), Elliott-Wheeler (44’)

Red Card: John (53’)

Eastleigh: Townsend, Brindley, Humphries, Eweka, Evans, Blair (Pearson, 87’), Waite, Saunders (McCallum, 87’), Pierre,  Lundstram, Harris.

Substitutes: Fernandez, Waruih, Davis, McNamara, Whitehead

Goals: Saunders (13’), Blair (23’), McCallum (90’)

Attendance: 431 (56 away)