In their highly anticipated encounter at the Gateshead International Stadium, Gateshead suffered a 1-3 defeat to FC Halifax Town, with the visitors showcasing their clinical finishing. This match marked the continuation of their head-to-head rivalry, where FC Halifax Town have now secured their third win in the last five meetings, however, previous head-to-head records indicate FC Halifax Town have won 2 out of the last 5 matches with 3 draws.
The first half kicked off with a strong pace, both teams seeking to dominate possession. However, it was FC Halifax Town who broke the deadlock in the 16th minute, thanks to a well-crafted goal by Owen Bray, assisted by Zak Emmerson. This early strike seemed to galvanize the visitors, as they maintained their rhythm and created several scoring chances. FC Halifax Town found themselves in the driving seat, having won key matches in their recent performances.
Just before the halftime whistle, Andrew Oluwabori doubled FC Halifax Town’s lead with a strike in the 46th minute, leaving Gateshead with a mountain to climb in the second half. Gateshead, determined to get back into the game, pushed forward with renewed intensity after the break. Their efforts paid off in the 50th minute when Luke Hannant successfully converted a penalty, reducing the deficit to 1-2. This goal injected new life into the match, with both teams creating opportunities. Gateshead’s Robbie Tinkler received a yellow card in the 51st minute for a foul, while Adam Alimi-Adetoro from FC Halifax Town also received a yellow card in the 59th minute.
As the match progressed, FC Halifax Town made tactical substitutions to maintain their advantage. In the 62nd minute, they replaced Zak Emmerson with Adan George and Owen Bray with Tom Pugh, aiming to freshen up their attack. Gateshead responded with their own substitutions, introducing Max Sheaf for Charlie Colkett in the 63rd minute and later Kenton Richardson for Dan Jones in the 86th minute.
Despite these efforts, FC Halifax Town’s Max Wright sealed the deal with a goal in the 66th minute, restoring his team’s two-goal cushion. The visitors continued to press, making further substitutions, including introducing Angelo Capello for Andrew Oluwabori in the 73rd minute and Jack Jenkins for Max Wright in the 79th minute, to see out the game. Additionally, FC Halifax Town initially substituted Louis Flower for Jovan Malcolm in the 62nd minute.
The match ended with FC Halifax Town celebrating a 1-3 victory, a result that reflects their superior performance on the day. Gateshead, although showing glimpses of resilience, ultimately fell short in their pursuit of points. The win for FC Halifax Town could potentially move them closer to the playoff spots, depending on other match outcomes, while Gateshead will look to regroup and bounce back from this setback, aiming to improve their position in the league standings.