Match Report: Jack McGraghan

A second win in as many games for Gateshead was overshadowed by a serious injury to captain Greg Olley at Woking.

Olley was taken to hospital after sustaining a broken leg in the 15^th minute of the game, which resumed following a lengthy stoppage while the Heed skipper received on-field treatment.

Goals in either half from Kenton Richardson and Mark Beck were enough to secure three points against 10-man Woking, leaving Gateshead top of the National League with two games played.

Rob Elliot named an unchanged side following a 5-1 win on the opening day against Ebbsfleet United, with the only change being the introduction of newly signed centre-back Jean Belehouan on the bench.

Gateshead controlled much of the possession early on, but had to rely on Tiernan Brooks to keep the game goalless when he saved one-on-one from Charley Kendall as the Woking forward broke free on the counter just five minutes in.

Owen Oseni and Jacob Butterfield both came close afterwards, with the former seeing his close-range effort hooked clear before the latter curled just wide of the far post from inside the box.

The afternoon took a difficult turn in the 15^th minute however, with Dion Kelly-Evans shown a straight red card following a challenge which saw Olley suffer a broken leg.

The Heed’s captain would receive on-field treatment for over 40 minutes, with the game suspended for a total of one hour as Olley was transported to hospital before play was allowed to resume.

Gateshead took control against 10 men once the game was back underway and were denied an opener by saves from Woking stopper Will Jaaskelainen, until Richardson sent a long-distance strike in via a deflection to give his side a half-time lead.

Jaaskelainen was in fine form after the restart to keep Woking in the game, pulling off an outstanding save low to his right to keep Oseni’s header from finding the net on 55 minutes.

Gateshead remained patient in their search for a second goal however, taking until the 79^th minute to double their lead as Beck came off the bench to head home Regan Booty’s cross at the back post.

The forward could have netted a third – and his second – mere minutes later with a deft backheel, only to be denied by another fine Jaaskelainen save.

The Woking stopper then kept Callum Whelan’s 15-yard effort from finding a way past him in injury time, with Gateshead settling for a 2-0 win at the Laithwaite Community Stadium.

Gateshead: Brooks, Tinkler (Belehouan, 16’ (Beck, 70’)), Richardson, Grayson (90+5’), Hannant, Newton (Adom, 64’), Booty, Butterfield, Whelan, Olley (Worman, 16’), Oseni (Allan, 83’).

Substitutes: Moss, McGowan.

Goals: Richardson (44’), Beck (79’)

Yellow Cards: Newton (60’)

Woking: Jaaskelainen, Anderson (Akinola, 50’), Andrews (Smith, 81’), Beautyman, Dyche, Harries, Jones, Kelly-Evans, Kendall (Ward, 60’), Moss, Odusina (Walker, 70’).

Substitutes: Webber.

Yellow Cards: Andrews (41’), Anderson (45+1’), Odusina (51’), Moss (72’)

Red Card: Kelly-Evans (14’)

Attendance: 2,099