Match Details
Next Match
Gateshead embark on their longest away trip of the season this weekend to face Torquay United on Saturday, November 26.
The Heed will make a 770-mile round trip to visit Plainmoor for the first time since December 2017, with the hosts currently rooted to the bottom of the Vanarama National League.
Gateshead’s 3-1 win over Southend United last weekend saw them move to 22nd in the league table, and Mike Williamson’s side could move as high as 19th with three points at Torquay.
Games at Plainmoor have been entertaining for the neutral this season despite the hosts’ struggles with a total of 44 goals scored across 10 games this season, a number only beaten by the 46 scored at Wrexham so far this season.
Gary Johnson’s side have won just one of those 10 games however – a 6-1 victory over Aldershot at the beginning of November.
Torquay were handed a heavy defeat by promotion hopefuls Chesterfield last time out on home soil, with the visitors emerging 5-1 winners despite the home side drawing level at half time.
Will Goodwin and Aaron Jarvis are The Gulls’ top scorers with four each in the league, though the former is set to miss Saturday’s game after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season away to Barnet.
Heed View
“I think it’s very, very early to be talking about six-pointers,” said assistant manager, Ian Watson.
“Torquay are a really good side, the league probably doesn’t represent where they are as a team.
“We want to stick to our game plan, we don’t want to let emotions get too involved in it.”
Opposition View
“If you were watching the game or saw the highlights you can see how many opportunities we had [at Barnet],” Torquay manager Gary Johnson told the club’s official YouTube channel.
“People will be looking at the result of course and saying you still got beat 1-0. That’s the league we’re in and we’re bottom of that at the moment.
“Every game becomes important, and more important of course when you don’t pick up maximum points.”
Team News
Greg Olley remains absent due to injury and could be in contention for the opening fixture of December against Aldershot Town.
Adam Campbell will also miss the trip to Plainmoor, serving a one-match suspension for accumulating his fifth yellow card of the season against Southend United.
Ticketing Information
Away supporters will be seated in section A of the Bristow’s Bench, with admission priced at:
Adult – £17
Concession – £15
Under 18 – £10
Under 7 – Free
Purchase your tickets via Torquay United’s online ticketing platform here.
Substitutes
Substitutes
Gateshead earned a hard-fought point in torrential conditions at Torquay United.
Andrew Jarvis gave the hosts the lead with 20 minutes to go, though Elliot Forbes’ first goal of the season drew The Heed level come full time following a frantic second half.
Assistant manager Ian Watson took charge alongside Louis Storey and Rob Elliot at Plainmoor, with player-manager Mike Williamson absent due to illness.
Conor Carty was handed his first start in a Gateshead shirt, while Storey made the squad for the first time since suffering a broken foot in September.
Torquay looked to assert themselves from the first whistle and were only denied a sixth-minute opener by an incredible save from James Montgomery, who adjusted quickly to stretch back and tip Mark Ellis’ close-range header over the bar.
Despite the hosts controlling possession in the opening 45, chances proved difficult to come by following their early opportunity with a structure Gateshead 11 keeping them at bay.
Asa Hall sent a header wide via a deflection for Torquay, while at the other end Dan Ward was unfortunate to see his low cross come back off himself and go out for a goal kick after skipping past his man on the wing.
The hosts finished on top, though their pressure was yet to turn into an opening goal as Brett McGavin saw a 25-yard free kick well saved by Montgomery before Hall headed wide before the break.
The second 45 proved to be a much more free-flowing contest, with both sides trading spells of pressure repeatedly.
Dillon De Silva sent a dangerous ball into the six-yard box which Montgomery was on hand to parry away, while at the other end Conor Carty’s cross just evaded Aaron Martin who was lurking at the back post.
Carl Magnay sent a speculative 25-yarder over the bar with just under an hour remaining, and De Silva thought for a moment he had put Torquay ahead down the other end 66 minutes in only to quickly have his strike disallowed for offside.
The home fans got the opening goal they had hoped for four minutes later though, with Jarvis heading a deep cross into the far corner to give Gary Johnson’s men the initiative.
Five minutes later however, Gateshead were level. Substitute Dan Jarvis’ corner was flicked up into the six yard box where Aaron Martin threw himself in harm’s way to nod the ball down for Forbes to prod home and equalise.
Both sides saw chances to take three points pass by late on, with Jarvis capitalising on a Forbes slip in his own half only to fire wide, while Ward saw a goal-bound curling shot tipped wide by Mark Halstead.
Gateshead: Montgomery, Magnay, Richardson, Pye, Bailey (c), Conteh, Forbes, Ward, Martin, Carty, Harris.
Substitutes: Langley, Hasani, Storey.
Goals: Forbes (75’)
Yellow Cards: Magnay (77’), Conteh (89’)
Torquay United: Halstead, De Silva, Donnellan, Ellis, Evans, Hall, Moxey, McGavin (Hanson, 83’), Jarvis, Ness, Wearne.
Substitutes: Tomlinson, Crowe, Lovett, Omar.
Goals: Jarvis (70’)
Yellow Cards: Donnellan (10’), Evans (75’)
Attendance: 1,809 (27 Gateshead)