Match Report: Jack McGraghan

Gateshead earned their first win of the 2026/27 Enterprise National League season with two second half goals against Woking at Gateshead International Stadium. 

Alex Lankshear’s low cross towards the far post trickled in for a goal on his debut, before Kyle Ferguson headed in at the back post to get The Heed off the mark for the new campaign.

Lee Cattermole made four changes from Gateshead’s opening day defeat at Eastleigh, starting Pete Jameson in goal following Adam Desbois’ departure and handing debuts to Lankshear, Micky Spellman and Luke Supyk.

Woking had the upper hand early on, with Jameson called into action as soon as the seventh minute to save a weak header at the back post, before making a crucial one-on-one stop from Matt Ward after the visitors raced through on goal on the counter attack.

Roy Syla and Ward both sent efforts wide of the mark for The Cards as they searched for the opener, and Billy Chadwick was denied an opportunity at the other end when his shot was well stopped by Will Jaaskelainen from 20 yards on the break.

A half-time tweak saw Keon Lewis-Burgess introduced on the left side for his Gateshead debut, with a change to a back four seeing The Heed gain control in a much improved second half display.

Lankshear almost found Ash Boatswain at the back post mere moments into the second 45, before sending a cross into the Woking box which evaded every shirt and nestled into the far corner to put Gateshead in front.

Jameson was called upon once more to keep that lead shortly after the restart when he smothered Aiden O’Brien’s effort at the back post, and Ferguson made sure Gateshead capitalised 63 minutes in by nodding Josh Home’s lofted cross in at the back post for two-nil.

The Heed were firmly in charge from there on out, and perhaps could have had more had Supyk not been denied by a firm Jaaskelainen hand to his low strike from 25 yards.

Dom Telford came off the bench and was inches away from adding a third when his injury time half-volley rattled the crossbar and bounced onto the line, but a two-goal lead ensured Gateshead took all three points on their first outing at the GIS. 

Gateshead: Jameson, K. Ferguson, D. Ferguson, Lankshear, Spellman (Telford, 81’), Robinson, Home, Coyle (Lewis-Burgess, 46’), Chadwick (Chapman, 64’), Supyk (John, 76’), Boatswain.

Substitutes: Cameron, Lavery, Smith.

Goals: Lankshear (55’), Ferguson (63’)

Woking: Jaaskelainen, Asare, Ogie, Odusina, Richards (Okoli, 5’), Harris, Akinola (Ayres, 64’), Syla, Turner, Ward, Kelly (O’Brien, 44’).

Substitutes: Ross, Dulson, Putman, Sohna.

Yellow Cards: Syla (13’)

Attendance: 614 (58 away)