Gateshead claim bragging rights in EIGHT goal THRILLER!

Rampant Gateshead defeated local rivals Hartlepool in emphatic fashion, scoring seven goals at the Gateshead International Stadium.

A calm chip-finish from Joe Grey sent the visitors a goal to the good before a Luke Hannant penalty brought the game back to level peggings to conclude the first half’s share of highlights.

Kieran Evans made it two for Gateshead from close range before Dajaune Brown added to Hartlepool’s woes with a header inside the six-yard box. Their fourth came via Regan Booty half volley before they got their fifth via fantastic passing sequence, capped off by Brown.

It was then six for ‘The Heed’ via a composed finish by Whelan, before a seventh via way of an own-goal.

Gateshead welcomed their fellow North-East neighbours with a relatively unchanged team from their last match, still looking to consolidate their place within the play-off spots, against a Hartlepool team that had won only one of their last five matches. Louis Storey was welcomed back into the starting eleven, as was Regan Booty. Callum Cooke was dropped to the bench for the visitors.

Hartlepool threatened with the first shot of the match, in the third minute Mani Dieseruvwe curled a low effort towards Nathan Harness’ far post just outside the box, the shot was well stopped however and Gateshead were able to clear their lines.

First goal came in the eighth minute when Grey, twisting and turning inside the box played a great one-two with Dieseruvwe and floated the ball over Harness.

Gateshead forced the ball into the back of the net in the 13th minute, Evans curled a free kick onto the bar before Callum Whelan poked in the follow-up from an offside position.

Hartlepool added pressure of their own in the 18th minute, Luke Waterfall’s header via a Nicky Featherstone outswinger forced a good save from Harness who saw it late but nevertheless was able to palm it out for another corner.

Ed Francis, 25 yards-out, was able to test the keeper in the 23rd minute when he sent a low-bending shot towards Pete Jameson’s far post, the Hartlepool keeper palming it out for a corner.

Gateshead then claimed a penalty after Brown was brought down in the box, Hannant stepped up to take the penalty and calmly slotted it past the keeper to bring things level 29 minutes in.

Kain Adom very nearly made things two in the 29th minute, after the ball dropped to him his shot under-pressure rippled the side netting for a goal-kick.

The rest of the first half played out in a dull fashion, with both teams failing to produce any quality chances, leaving it all to play for heading into the second half of the match.

Gateshead were quick off the mark following the second half, after the ball dropped to him inside the box, Evans fired a low shot that flew past Jameson between the sticks.

The Heed then bagged a two-goal cushion in the 54th minute, Hannant played a quick one two with Francis before storming down the right-hand side before floating in a precise cross converted by Brown.

Booty put himself onto the scoresheet shortly after, capitalising on a loose ball from a corner and volleying home for ‘The Heed’ just on the 60th minute.

Yet another goal came for ‘The Tynesiders’ on the 70th minute, Gateshead producing a great piece of passing play that was capped off by a composed chip-finish by Brown, assisted by Francis.

Things then got even worse for Hartlepool when in almost identical sequence to their previous goal, Whelan chipped the ball over Jameson after another dinked pass from Francis.

A seventh nearly came for Booty after the ball dropped to him on the right side of the box, his curled effort glancing off Jameson’s far post.

Ultimately, their seventh came the way of an own goal, a Greg Olley corner proving too difficult to deal with as its turned into the net by Courtney Duffus after Tom Allan managed to get a small flick on the ball.