Match Report: Jack McGraghan

Gateshead’s winless run extended to five games with a 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Maidenhead United. 

Manny Onariase headed The Magpies in front with 15 minutes on the clock to leave The Heed chasing the game early on, before a late second from Shawn McCoulsky sealed their fate on a disappointing day at Gateshead International Stadium.

Carl Magnay brought Jean Belehouan and Tyrell Sellars-Fleming back into the starting XI on Tyneside, while there was also a place from Tyrelle Newton on the bench after his two-month injury lay-off.

It would be Maidenhead who got themselves in front within the opening 15 minutes of the game, with Onariase meeting a deep free-kick at the back post to send a looping header dropping into the far corner of the net.

Visiting goalkeeper Craig Ross was called upon to parry Jack Roles’ 25-yard strike clear as Gateshead searched for an equaliser, while at the other end Tiernan Brooks tipped McCoulsky’s header wide at full stretch.

Roles, Liam Humbles and Dan Jones would all send efforts over the crossbar before the half time whistle, with Gateshead limited to chances from distance for much of the opening 45 minutes.

The Heed’s best chance came within three minutes of the restart though, with Luke Hannant’s low ball into the six-yard box narrowly missed by Sellars-Fleming, and Maidenhead hooking clear in the aftermath.

The hosts controlled possession without creating an abundance of opportunities on goal in the latter stages of the game, with Jovan Malcolm sending a 20-yard strike wide as Maidenhead held onto their clean sheet.

The visitors scored a second late on, capitalising on a loose touch from Jones on the edge of his box to see McCoulsky race through and slot into an unguarded net and compound a tough afternoon.

Brooks would be called on to keep McCoulsky from netting a third when he was played through one-on-one late on, but the score remained at two with defeat seeing Gateshead slip to sixth in the Vanarama National League.

Gateshead: Brooks, Belehouan, Jones, Horton, Hannant, Worman (Thompson, 83’), Booty, Humbles, Roles (Newton, 77’), Malcolm, Sellars-Fleming.

Substitutes: Bond, Bramwell, McGowan, Sheaf, Colkett.

Yellow Card: Booty (55’), Belehouan (81’), Hannant (90+3’) 

Maidenhead United: Ross, Abrahams (Johnson, 82’), Clerima, Cochrane, De Havilland, Ferdinand, Ferguson, Latty-Fairweather, McCoulsky, Onariase, Pettit.

Substitutes: Ajose, Barratt, Collins, Kiernan, Sho-Silva, Stewart.

Goals: Onariase (15’), McCoulsky (84’)

Attendance: 1,811 (33 away)