Match Report: Gateshead claim three points and clean sheet at home

Dajaune Brown continues scoring streak and seals victory for ‘The Heed’ in a very tight match.

Brown struck first for Gateshead with a chip in what was the only goal of the match.

Rob Elliot’s high-flying Gateshead side would start the same as they did in their 7-1 demolition of Hartlepool only three days prior. The visitors were likewise in a similar vein of form, winning three of their last five outings.

Tyrese Sinclair would return for Rochdale on the bench after a lengthy injury and George Nevitt would return to the starting lineup after being on international duty.

The first chance came in the 13th minute when Kieran Evans was slotted in by Callum Whelan, the Welshman found himself off-balance as he slipped, leading to his shot rolling into the path of Jacob Chapman who easily collected the ball.

A few minutes later Devante Rodney found himself free in the box following a well worked corner for Rochdale, however his toe-poked effort was collected simply by Nathan Harness.

Gateshead then took the lead just on the 27th minute, Brown acrobatically flicking the ball over Chapman after being put through by a chipped through-ball by Ed Francis.

The rest of the first half was met with a number of fouls and offsides that lead to neither team managing to fully find their rhythm, leading to Gateshead being a goal to the good heading into the break.

The second half begun the same way the first half had ended, with neither side producing much quality going forward.

However Gateshead almost got a second 58 minutes in, Louis Storey arrived at the back past from an Evans in-swinging corner, the defender’s header was crucially tipped onto the underside of the bar by Chapman and Rochdale were able to clear their lines.

Both sides then looked to their benches, Brown, Whelan and Evans coming off for Greg Olley, Ben Worman and Marcus Dinanga for Gateshead while Jimmy Keohane and Cameron John were replaced by Sinclair and Finaly Armstrong for the visitors.

Another chance came for Gateshead in the 78th minute when the ball fell to Greg Olley who curled in an effort that glanced wide of the keepers far post.

Rochdale looked to equalise in the 82nd minute when Sinclair produced a good touch to take down Kyron Gordon’s cross and fired from close range, his shot however being collected by Harness on the second attempt after he initially fumbled the ball.