Match Report: Oliver Spark

The Heed climbed out of the relegation zone with a huge three points against York City.

Gateshead lined up against second-placed York City with four changes: David Ferguson, Josh Home, Jacob Butterfield and Levi Amantchi brought into the starting eleven. 

Joe Grey had the first chance of the match in the third minute. The wing-back broke free of the Gateshead back line and fired a curling shot just over the far upright.

Ben Radcliffe broke free into the York half in the tenth minute, winning a free kick just inside the half. Keaton Ward took the set piece, and it was recycled well by Butterfield, but York dealt with the early chances well. 

York’s Ollie Pearce broke free of the Gateshead back line and teed up a shot that went narrowly wide of the far post. York then had a free kick that was dealt with well by The Heed.

At the other end, Butterfield fired in a shot that was headed for the net but was deflected by a York defender and rolled into the gloves of Harrison Male in the away goal. 

The Heed’s team spirit was there for all to see as Harry Chapman ran to keep in a free kick delivery that looked like a lost cause. The winger then whipped in a tempting cross, but no one could make contact, and the ball was recycled well but matched by York’s defence. 

Pearce continued to cause problems on the right side of York’s attack, breaking free again and sliding the ball through to the returning Greg Olley whose cross was dealt with by Adam Desbois. 

Butterfield broke free on the left wing and ran into space. The Heed’s number ten dug out a promising cross that fell to Amatchi at the far post, but the forward couldn’t control the effort. 

Two minutes later, Amantchi was involved in the attack again, sliding a ball through to Chapman that was cut out. 

At the other end, York had their first chance during an otherwise great spell of pressure for Gateshead. Pearce’s effort rolled narrowly wide of the far post after a through ball from Joe Grey. 

The breakthrough came in the 42nd minute. Butterfield had done well to drive up the pitch, and his effort was deflected for a corner. Gateshead were awarded a throw after the corner, and Nicholson lined it up. The delivery went through the York defence and fell to the waiting Keaton Ward, who made no mistake in firing home to give The Heed the lead and top up the atmosphere under the lights.

Gateshead had another chance as the match entered two minutes of added time. Butterfield did well again to work a cross that he whipped in towards the back post. Amantchi was waiting at the back post, but his headed effort rolled just wide of the far post. 

The Heed went in at half time a goal to the good. 

The second half started at a rapid pace, Gateshead weathered an early York storm with three blocks in the area before breaking quickly at the other end with Chapman and Amantchi linking up before Fenton John fired a shot on target that was saved by Male. 

At the 60-minute mark, Rob Elliot showed his hand and brought on Ash Boatswain and Josh Anifowose for Butterfield and Home.

Just two minutes later, the two substitutes combined to fire The Heed two to the good and send the GIS into raptures. Anifowose managed to whip an inswinging cross into the box, and Boatswain was where he needed to be, ready to fire home in the six-yard box to double the lead and wheel away in celebration. 

After the goal Gateshead made three more substitutions, Louis Storey, Sam Bowen and Ethan Moore entered the action in the place of Radcliffe, Amantchi and Ferguson.

In the 86th minute, Louis Storey sent the GIS into dreamland with the third goal of the night. Keaton Ward turned provider as he whipped in an inswinging free kick into the danger zone. Storey was waiting in the centre of the six-yard box to fire in and make it three.

As the game rolled into eight minutes of added time, York pulled one back with Ollie Pearce having a simple tap in in the six-yard box. 

Adam Desbois made two excellent saves as The Heed closed the match out to record a famous victory on Tyneside. 

All throughout The Heed spirit was there for all to see, battling for a fourth even after netting three famous goals that sealed a win that takes the Tynesiders out of the relegation zone, an unbelievable night in front of the Heed Army.

Gateshead: Desbois, Nicholson, Ferguson (Moore 73’), Radcliffe (Storey 70’), Richardson, Chapman, Ward, John, Home (Anifowose 63’), Butterfield (Boatswain 63’), Amantchi (Bowen 73’)

Substitutes (unused): Beck, Chadwick

Goals: Ward (42’), Boatswain (65’), Storey (86’)

Yellow cards: John (16’), Home (57’)

York City: Male, Fagan-Walcott, Hunt, Stones, Pearce, Grey (King 73’), Boateng, Olley (Banks 63’), Williams (Brookes 63’), Johnson, Newby

Substitutes (unused): Sykes-Kenworthy, Fallowfield, Howe, Batty

Goals: Pearce (90+3’)

Yellow cards: Boateng (85’)

Attendance: 1,687 (1,109 away)