Match Report: Jack McGraghan

Gateshead made it back-to-back wins in the Vanarama National League with a 3-1 victory away to Southend United.

Jacob Butterfield’s first Heed goal put the visitors in front on 12 minutes, though Gus Scott-Morriss hauled Southend level heading into the break.

Luke Hannant restored Gateshead’s advantage from the penalty spot after Owen Oseni was brought down one-on-one, before Ben Radcliffe netted his second in as many games to seal three points.

Rob Elliot named two changes to the side that defeated Boston United in midweek, with Tyrelle Newton and Tom Allan coming into the starting 11 in place of Charlie Colkett and Kain Adom.

It took just over 10 minutes for either side to have a meaningful attempt on goal, but Butterfield made his strike count when he swept into the far corner from Callum Whelan’s lay-off to put Gateshead in front.

The opening 45 proved to be fairly light on clear opportunities on goal, with Tiernan Brooks making a save at his near post from George Moncur while Newton was denied from range by Collin Andeng Ndi.

The home side clawed their way back into the game just after the half-hour mark however, with Scott-Morriss sending a shot past Brooks via a deflection off Louis Storey in the penalty area.

Gateshead’s lead was restored seven minutes into the second half though, with Oseni brought down for a penalty by Andeng Ndi after the forward had raced onto Regan Booty’s lofted ball forward.

Hannant stepped up to send into the bottom right corner and put his side back in front, scoring his second of the season in the process.

Butterfield came inches away from adding The Heed’s third – and his second – just after the hour mark when Whelan set him up once more, only for his effort to this time come back off the crossbar via a deflection.

The third arrived with 70 minutes on the clock, with Booty’s corner met powerfully by Radcliffe to head past Andeng Ndi for his second goal of the week, having already scored on Tuesday against Boston.

Adam Crowther and Macaulay Bonne both sent headers wide for Southend as they tried to find a way back into the game late on, but their efforts proved fruitless as Gateshead saw out a 3-1 win at Roots Hall to stay fifth in the league table.

Gateshead: Brooks, Tinkler (Beck, 84’), Storey, Radcliffe, Allan (Adom, 60’), Hannant, Booty, Whelan (Jones, 78’), Newton, Butterfield (Worman, 65’), Oseni (Malcolm, 70’).

Substitutes: Basey, Colkett.

Goals: Butterfield (12’), Hannant (52’, pen), Radcliffe (70’)

Yellow Cards: Hannant (40’), Radcliffe (90’), Malcolm (90+5’)

Southend United: Andeng-Ndi, Gubbins, Scott-Morriss, Crowther, Foran (Wind, 74′), Appiah-Forson, Bridge, Husin, Morton (Walker, 56′), Moncur (Wood, 81′), Bonne.

Substitutes: Pepple, Hillson, Faulkner.

Yellow Cards: Andeng Ndi (51’)

Attendance: 6,837 (71 Gateshead)