Brody Peart scored after five minutes as Aldershot Town ended a five-match National League losing run with a 1-0 victory over bottom club Gateshead at the EBB Stadium. The visitors twice struck the woodwork and were denied by important saves from Nick Hayes, but the Shots held on for their first league win since beating Tamworth in September.
Scott Davies’s side made the breakthrough when Ollie Harfield released Basil Tuma into the penalty area. Gateshead goalkeeper Pete Jameson saved Tuma’s effort at his near post, but Peart reacted to the rebound and finished from close range to give Aldershot an early lead.
The hosts had opportunities to extend their advantage during the first half, with Hakeem Sandah twice denied by Jameson. The Gateshead goalkeeper kept out Sandah’s goalbound effort in the 15th minute before tipping another attempt over the crossbar around the half-hour mark.
Aldershot made their first substitution in the 35th minute when Jacob Borgnis replaced Conor Lawless. Gateshead’s Alex Lankshear and Sam Bowen were both cautioned before the interval, but the visitors came close to equalising when Harry Chapman delivered towards the far post and Ben Williams met the cross after Hayes failed to gather it. Williams headed against the upright, allowing Aldershot to reach half-time with their narrow lead intact.
The Shots almost doubled their advantage shortly after the restart when Tuma delivered into the penalty area for Tristan Abrahams, but the forward fired over from close range. Gateshead then created a series of opportunities as caretaker manager Ben Clark’s side searched for an equaliser.
Tommy Lavery was denied from point-blank range after meeting Sam Bowen’s corner, with Hayes producing an important save to preserve Aldershot’s lead. The home goalkeeper was called upon again in the 74th minute when Lankshear created space inside the penalty area with a feint before shooting, only for Hayes to keep out his close-range effort.
Gateshead went close once more when Jordy Hiwula-Mayifuila met the ball first time from inside the penalty area, but his attempt struck the outside of the post. The visitors had now hit the woodwork twice, while Aldershot continued to protect the slender advantage established by Peart’s early goal.
Davies introduced Jack Matton for Tyrese Dyce on the hour, with Marcus Wyllie and Marcus Dinanga replacing Sandah and Abrahams during the closing stages. Gateshead responded by bringing on Freddie Issaka, Ashley Boatswain and Josh Anifowose, but were unable to find a breakthrough.
The visitors had one final opportunity three minutes into stoppage time when Josh Home attempted a shot from around 20 yards, sending his effort wide. Aldershot held on through five added minutes to secure their first clean sheet and league victory since September.
The result lifted Aldershot to 21 points from 16 National League matches and ended their sequence of five successive league defeats. Gateshead remained bottom with four points from 15 games after a ninth consecutive loss, despite creating several opportunities to take something from the contest.
