Match Report | Cards beaten by Heed

Woking 0-2 Gateshead
Vanarama National League
17th August 2024

Michael Doyle made three changes to the side defeated at Altrincham last week, with the suspended Dale Gorman replaced by Jermaine Anderson, whilst Harry Beautyman and Jacob Jones were in for Deon Moore and Dennon Lewis, with neither on the bench.

As for the visitors Gateshead, they named a side with just one change from the team who defeated Ebbsfleet by a 5-1 margin, with hat-trick hero Greg Olley as skipper.

In front of a sun-kissed Laithwaite Community Stadium, the hosts led by captain Dion Kelly-Evans kicked towards the KRE, with the first attack falling their way inside three minutes. Good work from Charley Kendall down the left wing saw his deep cross met at the back post by the head of Dan Moss, but a deflection took the sting out of the effort.

An even bigger chance fell Woking’s way a minute later, with Kendall sent through on goal by Jermaine Anderson. Tiernan Brooks stood firm in the Heed goal, parrying away from danger.

However, Gateshead somehow didn’t put themselves one up with nine minutes gone, when Luke Hannant’s cross was perfect for Owen Oseni to seemingly slide home. But there was Will Jaaskelainen, somehow diving full stretch to keep the ball out via the post, and then scramble behind for a corner.

With the ten minute mark passed, Jacob Butterfield nearly found the far corner from just inside the box, but his effort nestled wide.

The game erupted into life with 13 minutes gone, as Luke Hannant appeared to tussle with Jacob Jones on the ground, before a Gateshead break ended in Dion Kelly-Evans putting a high and late tackle on Greg Olley, who was stretchered off. Kelly-Evans was sent off and we wish Olley a speedy recovery.

After a stoppage nearly lasting an hour, play resumed with a Gateshead free-kick. The Heed started controlling the game with an extra man, and Jacob Butterfield was the first to test Jaaskelainen, forcing him into a good save to his right.

However, Gateshead took the lead with 43 minutes gone when Kenton Richardson’s shot took a wicked deflection and gave Jaaskelainen no chance, flying into the bottom right corner.

1-0 was how it stood going into half time, with Gateshead seizing upon their man advantage.

Half-time: Woking 0-1 Gateshead

With 55 minutes gone, yet another brilliant save from Jaaskelainen denied Oseni. His header from inside the six yard box was brilliantly parried away from danger by the Finn.

With 79 minutes gone, Gateshead killed the game when a nicely whipped cross from Regan Booty was headed home by substitute Mark Beck, as the Heed’s man advantage once again told.

Jaaskelainen was needed once again to save from a close range Beck flick as the visitors turned on the style. With just a minute left, he denied Callum Whelan down to his left to keep the deficit at two goals. Were it not for his heroics, the score may have got ugly.

However, we wish Greg Olley the speediest of recoveries.


Woking: Jaaskelainen, Moss, Odusina (Walker 70’), Harries, Dyche, Jones, Beautyman, Kelly-Evans, Andrews (Smith 81’), Kendall (Ward 60’), Anderson (Akinola 50’)

Subs: Webber

Bookings: Andrews 41’, Anderson 46’, Odusina 51’, Moss 71’

Sent Off: Kelly-Evans 14’

Gateshead: Brooks, Tinkler (Belehouan 14’ (Beck 70’)), Richardson, Storey, Butterfield, Booty, Oseni (Allan 84’), Whelan, Hannant, Olley (Worman 14’), Newton (Adom 64’)

Subs: Moss, McGowan

Goals: Richardson 43’

Bookings: Newton 60’

Attendance: 2099