Wealdstone welcome Gateshead to Grosvenor Vale on Saturday afternoon for a National League fixture between two sides looking to reverse difficult runs of form. The Stones begin the weekend 19th with eight points from nine matches, while Gateshead sit bottom of the table with four points after losing seven of their opening nine fixtures.
Wealdstone arrive on a three-match losing run, having previously recorded impressive consecutive away victories against Sutton United and Boston United. Those results briefly provided momentum after a difficult opening to the campaign, but the Stones have been unable to build on them.
A 4-1 home defeat against Kidderminster Harriers was followed by a loss at FC Halifax Town before Wealdstone suffered a dramatic 2-1 defeat at Tamworth last weekend. Olufela Olomola gave Gary Waddock’s side an early lead at The Lamb, but the contest changed when Connor McAvoy received a second yellow card in the 68th minute.
Nathan Tshikuna converted the resulting penalty to bring Tamworth level before substitute Jake Hutchinson struck in the 97th minute to leave Wealdstone empty-handed. It was a particularly frustrating conclusion for the Stones, who had led for almost an hour before being reduced to ten men.
Gateshead travel to London in an even more difficult run of results. The Heed are without a victory in their last seven National League matches, with their only success of the season coming against Tamworth during the opening weeks of the campaign.
Their last five fixtures have produced one draw and four defeats. Losses against Harrogate Town and Forest Green Rovers were followed by a draw with Solihull Moors, before Gateshead suffered successive defeats against Kidderminster Harriers and Southend United.
Last weekend brought their heaviest defeat of the season as Southend produced a devastating attacking display at the Gateshead International Stadium. The visitors scored twice inside the opening eight minutes and were 5-0 ahead by half-time before Sam Austin completed his hat-trick immediately after the restart. David Eguaibor scored a late consolation as Gateshead were beaten 6-1.
The clubs have become familiar opponents in recent seasons, with Gateshead holding the stronger head-to-head record. Across eight meetings over the previous three campaigns, Gateshead have recorded six victories, Wealdstone have won once and one fixture has ended in a draw.
Last season’s meeting at Grosvenor Vale produced a 2-2 draw, with Wealdstone recovering to take a point. Gateshead won the reverse fixture 1-0, continuing a recent record that has generally favoured the Tynesiders despite the very different positions in which the clubs enter Saturday’s encounter.
Wealdstone begin the weekend 19th in the National League with eight points from nine matches after two wins, two draws and five defeats. They have scored 11 goals and conceded 15 for a goal difference of -4. Gateshead sit 24th with four points after one win, one draw and seven defeats, scoring six goals and conceding 20.
Saturday therefore brings together two sides in urgent need of a positive result. Wealdstone will be looking to end a three-match losing run after the disappointment of their stoppage-time defeat at Tamworth, while Gateshead arrive at Grosvenor Vale searching for their first victory in eight league matches and a response to last weekend’s heavy defeat against Southend.
