Match Report: Jack McGraghan

Gateshead’s long wait for a win against FC Halifax Town continued as the latter ran out 3-1 winners in the first game of 2025 at Gateshead International Stadium.

Goals from Owen Bray and Andrew Oluwabori put the visitors two up at the break, and though Luke Hannant’s penalty halved the deficit five minutes into the second half, Halifax’s two-goal lead was restored by Max Wright on 66 minutes.

The defeat sees Gateshead’s run without a win against Halifax stretch to 19 games since the pair’s first meeting in 2013.

A number of injuries saw Carl Magnay make a raft of changes to his side on the night, with new signings Louis Flower and Max Sheaf making the bench while four changes were made to the side that lost at York in the last National League game on New Year’s Day.

An early chance for the home side saw Will McGowan found in the box by Dan Jones’ lofted ball, though Halifax stopper Sam Johnson and a covering defender got back just in time to divert the ball behind goal.

The visitors took the lead with 16 minutes on the clock by capitalising on a loose pass from Owen Mason in the centre of the pitch, with Robbie Tinkler unable to block the cross destined for Bray at the back post, who tapped in from close range.

Gateshead showed flashes in their efforts to draw level as the half wore on, and could have had a penalty when Charlie Colkett’s ball was fired across the six-yard box, with Jean Belehouan seemingly pulled back as he looked to connect in the area.

It was Halifax who found the net next however, latching onto another loose ball out from defence before Oluwabori converted from point blank after an initial shot crashed against the crossbar.

The Heed halved the deficit with five minutes of the restart however after McGowan was fouled in the box, allowing Hannant to send the resulting penalty into the bottom-right corner for his seventh of the season.

Halifax would regain their two-goal lead just after the hour mark though, with Wright slotting past Owen Mason after the goalkeeper’s initial save from inside the box.

Debutant Sheaf saw a big opportunity to pull one back denied by the feet of Johnson from close range late on, but Gateshead’s efforts to find a way back into the game proved fruitless.

Gateshead: Mason, Tinkler, Belehouan, Jones (Richardson, 86’), Williams, Hannant, Colkett (Sheaf, 61’), Humbles, Worman, McGowan, Malcolm (Flower, 61’).

Substitutes: Basey, Adom, Pani, Bramwell.

Goals: Hannant (50’, pen)

Yellow Cards: Tinkler (51’)

FC Halifax Town: Johnson, Adetoro, Bray (Pugh, 62’), Emmerson (George, 62’), Evans, Galvin, High, Oluwabori (Capello, 73’), Senior, Smith, Wright (Jenkins, 79’).

Substitutes: Arthur, Cummings, Ford.

Goals: Bray (16’), Oluwabori (45+1’), Wright (65’)

Yellow Cards: Adetoro (59’)

Attendance: 685 (68 away)