Match Report: Gateshead FC

It was a bad day at the office in Alun Armstrong’s first competitive match as Gateshead manager, with the Heed falling to a 3-0 defeat at home to Southend United.

Kevin Maher’s side went ahead early through Sam Austin, before a quickfire double in the second half meant the Shrimpers secured all three points on Tyneside.

There were six competitive debuts in the Gateshead starting 11 to take on last season’s play-off finalists, while 17-year-old Callum Bone made his first league start for the club.

It was tough start for Armstrong’s young side, as Charley Kendall challenged Tiernan Brooks immediately from kick-off, before the opener came soon after.

It was a clever finish from Austin at a tight angle, with the attacker following up on Josh Walker’s strike which rebounded off the woodwork.

The Heed found it hard to match their opponents in the early stages, with Austin hitting a potential second narrowly over just moments after the restart.

Things went from bad to worse just before the break, with Connor Pani being forced off the pitch after a reckless challenge from Nathan Ralph.

Armstrong called upon Max Sheaf from the bench, with Will Flint slotting into right-back.

In a similar vein to the first half, Southend started the second strong and eventually made it 2-0 through Walker.

Fifty-three minutes were on the clock as Austin played Walker on the left-hand side, who expertly found the far corner to double Southend’s lead.

Seconds later, Kendall wrapped the game up with a third.

A misplaced pass from Brooks fell straight into the Southend striker’s path, who lobbed an effort into the back of the net from 30 yards.

Despite a number of changes from Gateshead, the Heed struggled to get back into the game and Southend rode their way to a 3-0 victory.

Gateshead: Brooks, Pani (Sheaf, 44′), Richardson, Grayson, Ferguson, Home (Nouble, 77′), Flint, Bone (John, 57′), Fitzhugh (Adom, 57′), Telford, Chapman (Hurst, 57′)

Subs (not used): Shelvey, Williams.

Attendance: 1,278 (355 away)