REPORT | GATESHEAD 1-0 WEALDSTONE

Wealdstone suffer defeat on the road in a game of two halves at the Gateshead International Stadium.

The Stones started the game the much stronger side, looking dangerous down the flanks but lacking firepower in the final third.

Gateshead came out for the second period a much stronger outfit, and looked good value for their goal when substitute Jovan Malcolm headed past Sam Howes to give his side the lead.

Matt Taylor made just two changes to the side that drew with Halifax Town last weekend. Jack Cook returned from suspension to captain the side, with Brandon Mason also coming into the starting XI. Adrian Mariappa and Jaydn Mundle-Smith both being replaced in the lineup through suspension.

The Stones started the game the much stronger side, coming out of the blocks fast in search of an opening goal.

The biggest chance of the half came just three minutes in when Callum McFarlane was played in with a ball over the top, but opted to take his effort early, forcing a diving save out of Tiernan Brooks.

Micah Obiero was the next player to try his luck, just two minutes later, when he jinked past Daniel Jones, creating space and getting his shot away, which fizzed wide of Brooks' goal.

Taylor's side were seeing a lot of luck coming down the flanks, both Elliot Thorpe and Enzio Boldewijn looked lively on each wing, continuously whipping dangerous balls into the Gateshead area.

Owen Oseni had the strongest chance of the half for the home, finding himself in space, but hitting his effort wide of Howes' goal, 34 minutes in.

After a poor first-half, the home side came out looking a completely different side. They came close to breaking the deadlock just a minute after the break, when two goal-bound efforts looked destined to find the back of the net, had it not been for last ditch blocks from Enzio Boldewijn.

Taylor's side conjured their first chance of the second period, 62 minutes in, when the lively Thorpe found space inside the area, cutting inside, but seeing his shot blocked at the last minute.

As the Wealdstone legs began to tire, the home side ramped up the pressure, and it payed off, 75 minutes in, when a scrambling ball inside the Stones area, looped up to substitute Malcolm, who leaped to head past Howes and give his side the lead.

With 15 minutes left, the Stones had to pick themselves up in search of an equaliser. Dom Hutchinson came close with an effort from distance, but the Stones struggled to create anything meaningful in the remaining time.

After two games away from home, the Stones return to the Vale next week to face Gosport Borough in the FA Cup.

WEALDSTONE XI: Howes, Boldewijn, Cook, Barrett, Mason, Dyer, Wells-Morrison, Obiero, Ashford (Hutchinson 74'), Thorpe (Georgiou 84'), McFarlane (Sandat 90').

Attendance: 1147 (95 Stones fans)