Match Report: Oliver Spark

Gateshead take a hard-fought point from a four-all draw against Morecambe

Gateshead lined up on Tyneside for the first time since breaking their winless run, looking to keep their momentum going in a six-pointer against Morecambe. 

The Heed made two changes, Brad Nicholson and Joe Grayson returning to the starting eleven, replacing David Derguson and Fenton John. 

The Heed got off to a flying start. Mark Beck worked it well from inside the box to head the ball back out to Keaton Ward who was coming into the penalty area. Wardy hit it first time with venom to beat the keeper as the ball nestled into the bottom corner, giving Gateshead the lead within three minutes. 

Gateshead shored up well after their breakthrough, controlling the game well with little for Morecambe to get their teeth into. 

That changed in the 17th minute as Lewis Payne whipped in a cross from the right and the incoming Chris Popov took the initiative well at the near post to fire in a bullet header to level the scores. 

After dominating the ball again after the break but struggling to break down Morecambe’s low-block out of possession, Gateshead gave the ball away, and The Shrimpers countered well. Goalscorer Chris Popov turned provider, whipping a cross in for Morecambe’s top goalscorer Jack Nolan to head home for his ninth of the season. 

Morecambe continued to defend well. Nicholson’s long throws bypassed the low block on occasion though, twice yielding shots on target and brief chaos in the box. 

In the 44th minute, The Shrimps got their third goal. This time, Nolan assisted Popov for his second of the match. Before the goal, Beck was forced off through injury after a tussle in the box sent the striker to the ground. The substitute was only made after The Shrimps’ goal and saw Ash Boatswain come on for his debut. 

Four minutes of added time were signalled, all of which turned out to be eventful. Jacob Butterfield saw his shot from just inside the area bobble narrowly past the far post. Then a Gateshead corner led to a scramble in the box, and the referee blew for a penalty from a Morecambe handball.

Billy Chadwick stepped up in place of Beck to power the ball home to the right of Jamal Blackman in the Morecambe goal to pull the deficit back to 2-3 with the last kick of the half. 

Gateshead made a flying start to the second half, winning a free kick within the first minute that Chadwick lined up. His direct effort was deflected for a corner. Gateshead kept the pressure on with two Nicholson long throws testing Morecambe’s defence.

After the second long throw, Morecambe looked to clear but gave away a foul in the area, giving Gateshead a second penalty. 

Chadwick stepped up again, sending the ball powerfully to the keeper’s left this time to level the scores.

Morecambe countered instantly and a Popov shot wasn’t dealt with, instead the ball bobbled off a Gateshead player and into the net for an own-goal. 

It was a game of attrition for the next 20 minutes with both teams defending resolutely and neither having clear-cut chances.

That changed in the 74th minute when Chadwick ran beyond Ward who released the ball at just the right time for the hat-trick man to dink the ball superbly over the keeper and saw it dip underneath the crossbar. 

It was all Gateshead after the goal as The Heed pushed forward to try and regain the lead. Morecambe’s triple substitution was the first real break in Gateshead pressure since the equaliser. 

Fleeting chances came and went as time ticked by on the 90 minutes. The fourth official indicated six minutes of added time just after Nicholson had his headed effort saved by Jamal Blackman. 

Both defences remained solid during added time and saw the game out with no additions to the scoreline. Billy Chadwick was deservedly awarded player of the match as the referee blew an end to an entertaining ninety minutes.

While not the win The Heed might have wanted, it was a battling effort to come from behind twice and rescue a vital point, with standout performances and a team spirit crucial for the end of the season, it was a promising return to Tyneside. 

Gateshead Lineup: Jameson, Richardson (C), Nicholson, Ward, Bowen, Butterfield (Anifowose 45’), Radcliffe, Grayson (John 45’), Beck (Boatswain 44’), Chadwick (Telford 89’), Chapman (Amantchi 45’)

Substitutes (unused): Ferguson, Home 

Goals: Ward (3’), Chadwick (45+5’ (pen), 51′ (pen), 74’)

Morecambe Lineup: Blackman, Hogan, Dean, Songo’o (C) (Sangare 83’), Payne, Edwards (Williams 83’), Lewis (Thomas 83’), Jameson, Azeez, Popov, Nolan (Tollitt 77’)

Substitutes (unused): Boney, Akindileni, Ogwuru 

Goals: Popov (17′, 44’, 54′), Nolan (26’).

Yellow Cards: Jameson (56’), Azeez (90+2’)

Attendance: 616 (112 away)