Match Report: Jack McGraghan

Gateshead were dealt defeat for the first time in five games as Tamworth ran out 2-1 winners at The Lamb Ground.

Goals midway through either half from Nathan Tshikuna and Dan Creaney put the hosts in control, with Callum Whelan’s late strike proving only a consolation as The Heed returned to Tyneside empty handed.

Gateshead made three changes for the midweek trip to Tamworth, with Harry Moss deputising for Tiernan Brooks following his international call-up while Charlie Colkett and Jovan Malcolm replaced Tyrelle Newton and Owen Oseni.

Neither side created anything of note in the game’s early stages, with Jacob Butterfield’s flick wide of the far post on five minutes the best Gateshead got early on.

The Heed were dealt an early blow when Robbie Tinkler was forced off through injury 20 minutes in, and that was compounded three minutes later when Tamworth took the lead.

Regan Booty’s ball back to Moss was cut out and squared to Tshikuna, who slotted into an unguarded net to leave Gateshead chasing an equaliser.

Both sides sent efforts from distance wide of goal before the interval, with the game’s next chance of note not arriving until the 55^th minute when Malcolm’s 15-yard strike was beaten away by Jas Singh.

The forward could only flick Luke Hannant’s cross past the far post two minutes later, but it would be Tamworth who struck next as Creaney headed home a right-sided cross from close range to double their advantage.

Belehouan could have pulled one back with 72 minutes gone if his header from Booty’s corner had been a few inches the other side of the crossbar, though Whelan did just that when he converted Mark Beck’s rebound in injury time.

His goal proved too late for Gateshead to claw anything back from the game though, with Tamworth seeing out the final moments to take three points.

Gateshead: Moss, Radcliffe, Tinkler (Belehouan, 21’), Jones, Hannant, Allan (Newton, 71’), Booty, Colkett (Worman, 61’), Whelan, Butterfield (Beck, 61’), Malcolm (Oseni, 71’).

Substitutes: Basey, Haunstrup.

Goals: Whelan (90+5’)

Yellow Cards: Radcliffe (67’) 

Tamworth: Singh, Acquaye (Beck-Ray, 90+7’), Browne, Cullinane-Liburd, Creaney (Okafor, 87’), Fairlamb, Finn (McGlinchey, 82’), Hollis, Morrison, Tonks (Wallace, 90+2’), Tshikuna.

Substitutes: Digie, Phillips, Wreh.

Goals: Tshikuna (24’), Creaney (73’)

Yellow Cards: Creaney (48’), Morrison (63’), Cullinane-Liburd (79’), Acquaye (81’), Fairlamb (84’)

Attendance: 815