The Gateshead International Stadium witnessed a truly astonishing spectacle as Gateshead and Morecambe played out a remarkable 4-4 draw in the English National League. The match was a testament to attacking intent, with both sides producing a thrilling, end-to-end contest.
From the opening whistle, it was clear this would be no ordinary encounter. Gateshead drew first blood within three minutes. Mark Beck’s assist set up Keaton Ward, who fired his side into an early lead. However, Morecambe responded swiftly, levelling the score just ten minutes later through Chris Popov, assisted by Lewis Payne.
Morecambe then seized the initiative. Jack Nolan put Morecambe ahead in the 26th minute, finishing off a move initiated by Popov. Their attacking prowess continued to shine as Popov himself grabbed his second of the afternoon in the 44th minute, this time set up by Nolan, to give his side a commanding 3-1 lead heading into the interval.
The second half saw a dramatic shift in momentum. Gateshead emerged with renewed vigour and were handed a lifeline just five minutes after the restart. Billy Chadwick calmly converted a penalty, halving the deficit and injecting belief back into the home side. The comeback was completed within sixty seconds. Chadwick was again on hand, netting his second penalty of the match to restore parity at 3-3. The stadium erupted as Gateshead completed a stunning turnaround in the space of two minutes.
But the drama was far from over. Morecambe, stunned by Gateshead’s rapid resurgence, found themselves behind once more just two minutes later. Chris Popov completed his hat-trick, finding the net with assistance from Miguel Azeez, restoring Morecambe’s lead at 4-3.
Gateshead refused to buckle under the pressure. With just over fifteen minutes remaining, Keaton Ward turned provider, setting up Billy Chadwick for his third goal of the game. Chadwick’s strike secured a dramatic 4-4 draw and ensured both sides took a share of the spoils from an unforgettable encounter.
The match saw a flurry of substitutions. Gateshead introduced Ashley Boatswain for Mark Beck at half-time, while Morecambe brought on Ben Tollitt for Jack Nolan in the 77th minute. In the 84th minute, George Thomas and Ben Williams replaced Paul Lewis and Gwion Edwards respectively, and Mo Sangare came on for Yann Songo’o. Gateshead made their final change in the 88th minute, bringing on Dominic Telford for Billy Chadwick.
The draw leaves Gateshead in 23rd place in the National League table with 26 points from 32 games, while Morecambe sit one place above them in 22nd, also on 26 points but having played two games more. This thrilling encounter provided an enthralling spectacle.
