Match Report: Jack McGraghan

Gateshead were dealt defeat by title chasers York City in the penultimate home game of the season on Tyneside. 

Luke Hannant had put The Heed in front with 11 minutes gone, only for York to level nine minutes before the interval with Ashley Nathaniel-George’s scrappy equaliser.

The visitors struck twice in latter stages of the second to take three points, with goals from Junior Luamba and Malachi Fagan-Walcott condemning Gateshead to defeat.

Carl Magnay was forced into two changes through injury as George Shelvey and Ethan Robson dropped out of the squad, replaced by Tiernan Brooks and Branden Horton in the starting 11.

Gateshead began on the front foot and unsettled York from the off, leading to the opener when Jovan Malcolm flicked a cross against the upright, before Hannant slammed home the rebound to open the scoring 11 minutes in.

The hosts should have had a second 10 minutes later when Tyrelle Newton was sent through on goal on the counter, only for visiting stopper Harrison Male to block his initial effort before parrying Horton’s rebound clear.

That chance proved costly when York drew themselves level in scrappy fashion 36 minutes in, with a cross into the box almost cleared twice before Nathaniel-George was able to prod past Brooks from close range.

A back and forth second half was to follow with Gateshead having an opportunity early on via a counter attack, though Horton was only able to send his lay-off to Male in York’s goal with Newton and Malcolm racing forward towards the box in the absence of visiting defenders.

Brooks was on hand to tip Nathaniel-George’s curling effort from the edge of the box wide as York pushed forward at the other end, though he was unable to stop substitute Luamba from converting a pull-back from close range on the break 74 minutes in.

A third would come the visitors’ way five minutes from time when Nathaniel-George’s cross caught The Heed off guard and made its way to the back post, where it was tapped in by Fagan-Walcott to all but seal the result.

Substitute Tyrell Sellars-Fleming came close to pulling one back on two occasions late on, but was thwarted both times by Male from close range as the score remained at 3-1.

Gateshead: Brooks, Richardson, Haunstrup (Bartley, 86’), Grayson, Hannant, Horton, Booty, Akinola (Worman, 78’), Humbles, Newton (Nouble, 86’), Malcolm (Sellars-Fleming, 78’).

Substitutes: Bond, Colkett, Johnson.

Goals: Hannant (11’)

Yellow Cards: Richardson (17’), Grayson (37’), Akinola (47’).

York City: Male, Armstrong (John-Lewis, 87’), Fagan-Walcott, Felix, Howe, Hunt (Batty, 79’), John (Stones, 61’), Nathaniel-George, Pearce, Richardson (Crookes, 61’), Sinclair (Luamba, 61’).

Substitutes: Watson, Chadwick.

Goals: Nathaniel-George (36’), Luamba (74’), Fagan-Walcott (85’)

Yellow Card: Hunt (71’)

Attendance: 3,014 (1,493 away)