Match Report: Will Brown

Gateshead romped to a resounding 3-1 win in their first ever meeting with Southend United.

Dan Mooney’s late goal ended up being a consolation goal as a wonder-goal from Kamil Conteh, a dinked finish from Adam Campbell and a well taken finish from Conor Carty secured the win for Gateshead.

Gateshead were up for a challenge against Southend with the ‘Shrimpers’ unbeaten in their last six National League games and up to fifth in the league.

Mike Williamson had named himself in the starting line up again along with Elliot Forbes who had returned to the starting 11 following his loan spell at Spennymoor Town. While new signing from Bolton Wanderers, Conor Carty, was named on the bench.

On a damp afternoon at the Gateshead International it rained chances for both sides in the first 20 minutes of the game. In the seventh minute James Montgomery’s rolled ball out from the back was intercepted by Wes Fonguck who looked up and attempted to chip the Gateshead keeper from outside the box but the ball could only clip the crossbar.

Four minutes later it was Adam Campbell who came close to finding the back of the net when he cut inside from the left before he curled the ball just past the post.

Campbell was starting to become a dangerous threat to Southend as in the 14th minute he flicked the ball up in the box before striking the ball on the volley with real intent, but Collin Andeng-Ndi managed to get a vital hand to the shot.

The next chance fell to the visitors, Jack Bridge decided to take on Carl Magnay before making a diagonal run with the ball to the edge of the box to hit a low-driven shot, but Montgomery got down well to keep the scoreline level in the 16th minute.

After the two sides battled it out for possession the next clear-cut chance didn’t come until the 37th minute, a loose ball in the box from a floated cross found Shaun Hobson who flicked the ball between the Heed defence but once again Montgomery was there to make a save.

The second half began, and Gateshead nearly found the back of the net early on, a floated cross by Carl Magnay found Aaron Martin whose headed attempt went just over the bar.

Four minutes later Gateshead found the opener via a Kamil Conteh long-ranged strike, the midfielder took the ball from the half-way line before his low driven shot from 20 yards found the bottom corner.

Southend came close in the 70th minute when Dan Mooney tried his luck from distance with a curled effort, but Montgomery got down well to make a fantastic save

Gateshead doubled their lead in the 71st minute when Adam Campbell was played one on one with Andeng-Ndi before he dinked the ball past the Cameroonian.

The Heed Army were in full voice four minutes later when Gateshead scored again, Conor Carty off the bench made an instant impact scoring on his debut when he turned and finished well in the box.

Southend did scare the Gateshead faithful at one point when they scored late on in the 87th minute, Harry Cardwell low cross found Dan Mooney who did well with a first timed finish.

Gateshead: Montgomery, Magnay, Richardson, Williamson, Pye, Forbes, Conteh, Bailey, Martin (Carty, 63′), Harris (Ward, 85′), Campbell (Hasani, 90′).

Goals: Conteh (52), Campbell (71), Carty (76)

Southend United: Andeng-Ndi, Scott-Morris, Hobson, Kensdale (Ralph, 77′), Bridge, Powell (Mooney, 67′), Taylor, Miley, Fonguck, Wreh (Cardwell, 57′), Lopata.

Goals: Mooney (87)

Attendance: 1874 (712 Away)