Match Report: Oliver Spark

Gateshead suffered their first defeat in four games on Saturday at the GIS with a 0-2 loss against Forest Green.

Gateshead lined up at the GIS for the second time in a week to host Forest Green. Rob Elliot made four changes, bringing David Ferguson, Josh Anifowose, Fenton John, and Levi Amantchi back into the starting eleven. 

The game was end-to-end for the first five minutes, and Forest Green capitalised. The Rovers’ keeper chanced a long ball over the whole of the Gateshead backline, setting Tom Knowles up one-on-one with Pete Jameson. Knowles lobbed the Gateshead keeper to give the visitors the lead. 

The Heed didn’t let their heads drop, and constantly searched for through balls to get up the pitch. Jacob Butterfield had the best chance, powering through the centre of the pitch and hitting an effort from 16 yards out which was parried away by Harry Isted. 

For the next 30 minutes, the game was very stop-start with little break from the midfield scrap. Forest Green’s Tom Knowles had the two best chances, firing just wide in his latter effort as The Rovers’ attack looked dangerous when they broke free.

At the other end, Brad Nicholson’s long throws were a constant threat and caused frequent scrambles in the box, but everything was eventually dealt with. 

The first chance of the six minutes of added time was a Forest Green free kick, which Knowles fired in again, but was well blocked by the Gateshead wall. 

Butterfield had the last chance of the half, a straight, looping effort that was caught well by Isted in the visitors’ goal. 

That concluded a half of little note after the early Forest Green goal. 

The Heed started the second half quickly and looked very lively in the final third. Billy Chadwick was first to have a shot that he saw deflected wide for a corner. Then Levi Amantchi lined one up from just inside the box, which was caught well by Isted. 

The next Heed chance came from a well-worked move, starting with Ben Radcliffe’s cross, which was chested down by Amantchi. The ball sat nicely for Butterfield to have another strike on target, but Isted saved well to his right. 

Forest Green doubled their lead with their first chance of the half. Knowles put forward a searching long ball which Chibby Nwoko latched onto and lobbed Jameson. 

Harry Chapman went down under a challenge from Jay Mingi in the area, and the crowd were convinced it was a foul on the Gateshead player, but the referee saw it the other way and booked Chapman.

The game fell flat after the second Forest Green goal, and its stop-start nature returned as the match rolled on. 

Six minutes of injury time were added, and Gateshead had the first chance. Chapman whipped a first-time cross in toward Radcliffe at the back post whose header rolled just wide. 

After a heated end to stoppage time, the match ended with Forest Green two to the good. 

Attendance: 702 (120 Forest Green)

Gateshead lineup: Pete Jameson, Brad Nicholson, David Ferguson (C) (Ethan Moore 82’), Ben Radcliffe, Josh Anifowose (Harry Chapman 58’), Keaton Ward, Sam Bowen (Dom Telford 71’), Fenton John (Josh Home 71’), Jacob Butterfield (Ash Boatswain 58’), Billy Chadwick, Levi Amantchi

Substitutes: Kenton Richardson, Louis Storey

Yellow cards: Keaton Ward (90+6’), Rob Elliot (90+9’)

Red cards: Rob Elliot

Forest Green: Harry Isted, Laurent Mendy, Kyle McAllister (C), Tom Knowles (Christian Doidge 74’), Tate Campbell, Jay Mingi, Jili Buyabu (Neil Kengni 60’), Chibby Nwoko (Harvey Bunker 74’), Abraham Kanu, Ricardo Rees (Temi Babaola 66’), Ahmed Ashqar

Substitutes (unused): Fiachara Pagel, Nick Haughton, Jayden Clarke

Goals: Tom Knowles (5’), Chibby Nwoko (56’)

Assists: Harry Isted (5’), Tom Knowles (56’) 

Yellow cards: Laurent Mendy (34’), Temi Babalola (90+9’)