Gateshead 2-1 Chesterfield (National League North)
Almost a year a go today was the last time I saw Chesterfield play, they thumped an awful Torquay 5-1 at the Proact Stadium and I seriously had the Spireites as a threat to Notts County’s promotion party, in the end they were just a penalty away, as they took the Magpies all the way at Wembley in the playoff final.
Gateshead, I saw much more recently, a month or so ago against Solihull Moors where they lost an entertaining match to promotion rivals 3-2, but they have a chance to put that wrong right at Wembley, as they soon look forward to an FA Trophy final against the same opposition.
The fixture congestion has thrown up a bit of chaos, this game was originally on my list for Tuesday, but it’s been moved forward a day as the Heed host Aldershot on Thursday in a match that was controversially re-arranged after a late pitch inspection last week followed the Shots arriving at the stadium only to have the game deemed unplayable. Some harsh words were exchanged with a late flurry of rain leaving the pitch puddled despite the two teams leaving the decision as late as possible to get the game on. Aldershot had travelled by train a six hour plus journey without luck.
I’m hoping tonight will be on as another late downpour flurries as I reach the GIS… I’ve stopped off at a KFC and fuelled up ahead of a match which Gateshead need to win to keep their promotion chances alive, Chesterfield already on their new League One beach after securing the championship with a few games left to play.
The Venue
I’ve pulled up in my usual spot where a seagull has landed on my bonnet, staring me in the face before flying off with the grandstand of Gateshead Stadium in my view, I’m off inside to get my press pass, I’ve been here four times this season now, it’s a bloody long drive and one which will see me back in Blighty for the early hours of tomorrow.
Up the stairs of the entrance to the large concrete stand where the view is set back, but great, panoramic, I’m a good twenty rows up with the camera crew, laptop on my knee, paper cup of tea on the floor and twix in my pocket, as the rain falls, the sun shines, wind howls a chill in the air, a couple of rainbows in the sky which is half black and half blue, the setting is quintessentially English April as I look out to the horizon and the city of Newcastle upon Tyne upon the hill.
The Game
The hosts start well in their predominantly white over black shirts, they need to win tonight whilst Chesterfield in blue have made changes, giving guys a run out whilst some of their stars sit on the bench, and you feel there’s only one team trying to win it, the ‘champions’ have more of the ball but the ‘hosts’ do more with it. A slide rule pass into the penalty area looks to be too long but Dajuane Brown is quick, his long spider like legs get to the sphere first as Chesterfield goalkeeper Tyrer whips them away, penalty to the home side, no doubt, dispatched by Luke Hannant into Tyrer’s bottom left corner.
The away side go close as the inventive Dobra gets on the ball and makes things happen, they have a lot of corners without luck and some desperate defending keeps the champs at bay, but Gateshead have chances themselves and Brown is sent through again, this time he tries to round the keeper and looks to have taken a bad touch to trip himself over as he flat faces the suface, the ball trickles out for a goal kick, but the Referee thinks Brown is too quick for the keeper again, penalty again, this time Tyrer is booked, no one in the crowd, not even Gateshead fans and staff, believe it’s a pen.
The Score
Hannant again dispatches in the same corner as the goalkeeper ‘nearly’ gets fingertips on it, and Gateshead are deserved two goal leaders at the break, Chesterfield Manager Paul Cook is booked for an outburst after what he thought was not a penalty, but his side have only themselves to blame.
Chesterfield do however improve in the second half, they give Gateshead a couple of scares and pull one back on the hour when Manderville crosses low, the ball bundled into his own net by Louis Storey, but the home team hold on, their fans magnificent in full voice, despite only being just over 800 in attendance.
The Stars
Ed Francis in the Gateshead midfield wouldn’t look out of place in the middle of the park for Chesterfield, a cultured footballer from the Manchester City Academy and one who could long term replace the likes of Ollie Banks and Mike Jones who are these days the wrong side of 30. Francis is a silky cog in the Gateshead engine and would suit a higher level club who play football like Chesterfield no question.
Whilst Dajuane Brown was largely the difference, the liveliest threat from Gateshead on the night was often from left winger Kain Adom who caused Ryheem Sheckleford plenty of problems. Adom is direct, quick, powerful with a bit of technical talent, back from a recent injury he looks an exciting young player aged 22.
Exciting Chesterfield all season has been their own talented winger, Albanian Armando Dobra, twisty and turny he has real ability and can unlock defences in the final third, fortunately for Gateshead not many others were on his level tonight, Liam Mandeville another lovely footballer, but the Spireites never really made it out of second gear.
The Verdict
Chesterfield are champions, they’re already resting up and thinking about life in League Two which had large effect on how they performed tonight, whilst Gateshead still have all to play for, now secured in the playoffs, it’s not impossible they’ll be joining Chesterfield next season, with two potential trips to Wembley on the horizon next month?
Can Gateshead achieve football league status? They certainly have the players, they have great noisy hard core fans and a stadium that is massive, but the gates and footfall don’t match the ambition of the club, perhaps because it’s not a brilliant place to watch a game of football, a huge athletic stadium on the edge of the Tyne in an industrial part of town, maybe they need to move to a real football ground have a real shot at progressing their giant, remember Gateshead is a city with a population near 200,000, Chesterfield is a town under half that size of locals, it should be no surprise that Gateshead are beating teams like this, even though it is.
The Teams
Gateshead: Nathan Harness, Louis Storey, Robbie Tinkler, Kenton Richardson, Luke Hannant (Joe Grayson 69), Kain Adom (Ben Worman 66), Ed Francis, Greg Olly (Callum Whelan 76), Regan Booty, Keiron Evans, Dajuane Brown.
Chesterfield: Harry Tyrer, Ryheem Sheckleford (Michael Jacobs 86), Tyrone Williams, Jamie Grimes, Bailey Clements, Mike Jones, Tom Naylor, Liam Mandeville, Bailey Hobson (Harley Curtis 90), Armando Dobra, Joe Quigley (Ryan Colclough 77).
7:45pm Kick Off. Monday 15th April 2024, Gateshead International Stadium, Gateshead (att 879).