Match Report: Will Brown

A three-goal comeback from Champions League neighbours Newcastle United saw Gateshead narrowly defeated in front of a sell-out crowd at Gateshead International Stadium.

Gateshead took the lead in the 12th minute when Dinanga fired hard into the near-post. The Heed doubled their advantage just before half-time when Wearne converted the rebound of his initial shot.

Elliot Anderson scored for Newcastle with a confident finish in the 50th minute. The Magpies levelled the scoring in the 58th minute when Anderson’s squared pass was converted first time by Allan Saint-Maximin.

Newcastle completed the comeback in the 80th minute when Jay Turner-Cooke volleyed home Lewis Miley’s cross.

Mike Williamson would name a strong squad to face Newcastle United in the Heed’s third friendly of pre-season.

Williamson would make five changes to the team that was seen in the first-half against Sunderland last week with Archie Mair, Louis Storey, Callum Whelan, Greg Olley and Dinanga all being reintroduced into the starting XI.

The visitors had the first chance of the match within the first minute. Matt Ritchie powered down the wing before he broke into the box to shoot wide of the far-post.

Mair produced a world-class save to keep the score level in the eighth minute. Allan Saint-Maximin slipped Sean Longstaff in one-on-one but his shot was miraculously saved by the Heed goalkeeper.

Dinanga opened the scoring in the 12th minute. After a scuffle for the ball, Dinanga showed his strength when he protected the ball with his body before he shot hard into the near-post.

In the 26th minute Allan Saint-Maximin dribbled into the box before his shot which was aimed at the roof was kept out by a strong hand of Mair.

Gateshead doubled their advantage just before the break. After his initial shot was saved by Karl Darlow, Wearne followed up to fire the ball low into the goal.

Elliot Anderson reduced the two-goal deficit in the 50th minute. Anderson picked up a loose ball in the box and tucked the ball into the far corner.

Newcastle scored again eight minutes later via Saint-Maximin. Anderson played a squared pass across the box which Saint-Maximin tapped in.

In the 76th minute Aidan Rutledge intercepted a Newcastle back pass before he tried to curl the ball into the far corner but Loris Karius was there to deny him with a comfortable save.

Newcastle scored their third in the 80th minute. Miley looked up to play a sublime ball into the box which Turner-Cooke converted with a volley.

Gateshead: Mair (Elliot, 65′), Tinkler (Richardson, 46′), Storey, Booty (Forbes, 65′), Whelan (Magnay, 70′), Francis (Hasani, 70′), Olley (Thompson, 70′), Campbell (Pani, 65′), Hunter (Allan, 70′), Wearne, Dinanga (Rutledge, 65′).

Goals: Dinanga (12’), Wearne (45’)

Newcastle United: Darlow (Karius, 46′), Trippier (De Bolle, 64′), Saint-Maximin (Ashby, 64′), Ritchie (Miley, 64′), Lewis (Wiggett, 77′), Targett (White, 64′), Manquillo (Ndiweni, 72′), Anderson (Turner-Cooke, 72′), Burn (Miley, 83′), Longstaff, Savage (Murphy, 46′).

Goals: Anderson (50’), Saint-Maximin (58’), Turner-Cooke (80’)

Attendace: 7,096