Match Report: Jack McGraghan

Gateshead came from behind to emerge on the winning side of a seven-goal thriller at Sutton United’s expense at Gateshead International Stadium.

The Heed took a two-goal lead in the first half with goals from Jack Roles and Jovan Malcolm, only for Sutton to strike three times within 13 minutes to flip the script on Tyneside.

Luke Hannant’s thunderous volley drew Gateshead level, before Roles bagged once more to seal three points with 10 minutes to go on a dramatic evening in the North East.

Carl Magnay opted to hand Hull City loanee Tyrell Sellars-Fleming his first start in place of Will McGowan against Sutton, and it was the hosts who controlled proceedings early on with Roles seeing a first-time effort tipped over the bar by Jack Sims.

Roles would make no mistake with his second chance on 17 minutes though, latching onto Sellars-Fleming’s clipped ball into the centre to fire a low shot past Sims from 20 yards and net his first Gateshead goal.

The Heed continued to put pressure on Sutton’s goal after taking the lead with Malcolm looking sharp and curling a 25-yarder just wide of the far post, before testing Sims’ grasp with a low effort from the edge of the box.

Malcolm’s third shot on goal would prove fruitful, with the forward picking up possession after Sellars-Fleming’s pressure on the edge of the box before curling in off the far post to net his fourth National League goal of the season.

Gateshead were dealt a double blow before the break however, firstly through George Shelvey’s injury-enforced withdrawal before Sutton equalised with a rare shot on goal when Will Davies slotted home from close range after the hosts had given possession away from a throw in.

The visitors emerged with renewed confidence in the second half and drew level four minutes in, with substitute stopper Harrison Bond only able to parry Besart Topallaj’s shot into the path of Alex Kirk, who converted on the rebound to equalise.

Gateshead then found themselves one goal behind eight minutes later through Lewis Simper’s sensational 35-yard rocket, which looped over Bond and into the net to leave the hosts chasing for the first time in the game.

Roles sent an effort over the crossbar from 18 yards as Gateshead pushed for a leveller, before Branden Horton drilled a low cross across the six-yard box and out for a throw in.

Hannant replied with a strike of his own to match Simper’s – and level the game up – when he sent a pinpoint volley flying past Sims from a cleared corner to make it three-all with his 12^th of the season.

Not content for a point however, Gateshead pushed for a fourth and found it with 10 minutes remaining, as Roles weaved away from a sliding challenge and the on-rushing Sims to lift into the top corner for his second of the night.

The Heed could have perhaps netted a fifth when McGowan and Malcolm broke through on the break in injury time, only for McGowan’s pull-back to be cut out by a Sutton defender.

A collective sigh of relief was exhaled in the home end at Gateshead International Stadium upon the full-time whistle, with three points seeing Gateshead move to within one point of fourth place in the National League.

Gateshead: Shelvey (Bond, 41’), Tripp, Tinkler, Jones, Hannant, Horton, Roles, Booty, Worman (Humbles, 67’), Malcolm, Sellars-Fleming (McGowan, 89’).

Substitutes: Belehouan, Colkett, Bramwell, Thompson.

Goals: Roles (17’, 80’), Malcolm (35’), Hannant (74’)

Yellow Cards: Horton (45+6’)

Sutton United: Sims, French, Odelusi (Nadesan, 46’), Simper, Davies, De Silva, Vaz, Wadham, Woodyard (Coley, 46’), Topallaj, Kirk (Sandat, 88’).

Substitutes: Kerbey, Muller, Boateng, Jackson.

Goals: Davies (45+3’), Kirk (49’), Simper (57’)

Yellow Cards: Davies (71’), Topallaj (72’)

Attendance: 668 (84 away)