MATCH PREVIEW: Gateshead (A)

Seeing out an all-action August schedule, Aldershot Town will conclude a busy month with a trip towards the extremity of England’s North East to face Gateshead FC. The tie – which sees the two most recent FA Trophy Champions go head-to-head for the first time since that fateful day in May – represents a 610-mile round trip for Tommy Widdrington’s men, their second-furthest journey of this year’s Enterprise National League campaign, behind only Carlisle (644).

Founded in 1977, ‘the Heed’ may forever boast the claim of being English football’s first ever centurians, winning the Northern Premier League with exactly 100 points in 1983, just two years after the introduction of ‘three points for a win’. A typically extreme away-day for all of the division’s southern-based clubs, the Heed are due to gain another piece of history on the October 25th, as visiting Truro City will make the longest ever journey in English domestic football (~478 miles).

With the National League table beginning to take shape, the Tynesiders currently find themselves just outside of the play-off positions, with nine points from five league matches thus far situating them in 8th place.

RECENT FORM

Despite heavy losses to league heavyweights Southend and Rochdale, it has been a promising start from the team from Tyne and Wear, who have navigated three impressive victories in five, albeit not always in the most straightforward fashion…

• 25/08/25 – Yeovil Town 3-4 Gateshead (Hurst, Nouble, Adom 2)
• 23/08/25 – Gateshead 2-1 Tamworth (Flint 2)
• 20/08/25 – Rochdale 4-0 Gateshead
• 16/07/25 – Eastleigh 0-2 Gateshead (Telford, Adom)
• 13/08/25* – Gateshead 3-4 Newcastle U21 (Adom, Chapman, Bone)
• 09/08/25 – Gateshead 0-3 Southend United

Beaten convincingly by the Shrimpers on the opening weekend, Gateshead would conclude the first round of fixtures bottom of the fifth-tier table, though have since begun to ascend to their now usual status as play-off contenders.

With 55 EFL goals to his name, marquee signing Dominic Telford got off the mark with an absolute screamer against Eastleigh in a 2-0 victory on the road, which also saw wide-man Kain Adom continue his fine goalscoring form in West Hampshire.

A setback in Rochdale was quickly remedied by a perfect Bank Holiday Weekend, defeating Tamworth at the GIS before producing one of the great non-league comebacks two days later. Taking a three-goal deficit into half-time against Yeovil Town, goals from Kyle Hurst and former Glover Frank Nouble brought things back to 3-2 before the hour mark, and Kain Adom’s late brace – the latter of which scored in the 98th minute – compounded the hosts’ misery, making the long journey back from Huish Park a joyous one.

Like Aldershot, the Heed will come into this tie brimming with confidence, making this weekend’s contest particularly difficult to call.

IN THE DUGOUT

Learning under the tutelage of former manager Mike Williamson, Carl Magnay took over as boss in October 2024, and is impressing amid his first full season in charge of the club.

Born in the town of Gateshead himself, Magnay retired playing for his boyhood club, ending a 14-year-career that saw him come through Chelsea’s academy, before enjoying stints at Grimsby, Hartlepool United and Spennymoor town.

While Magnay has only been a first team manager since October, the former-full back has long preempted a career in coaching, earning his badges over ten-years ago.

The 36-year-old has had a decent start to life at the Heed’s helm, with highlights including 5-0 and 4-0 away victories against Maidenhead and Wealdstone last term, and of course, Monday’s dramatic comeback in Somerset.

PLAYED FOR BOTH

MATCH HISTORY AND LAST TIME OUT

With no meetings in cup competition, this tie has been exclusively contested as a fifth-tier league fixture. The Shots first made the arduous journey to the Gateshead International Stadium in early 2014, where the sides played out a goalless draw during a midweek in January.

Since then, the clubs have contested a further 17 times. While it took seven attempts for Aldershot to claim their very first victory against the Tynesiders, they have since somewhat levelled a once one-sided head-to-head record, losing just one of the last six meetings.

Games played: 18

Aldershot wins: 6

Gateshead wins: 7

Draws: 5

Aggregate score: 23-23

Record Shots victory: 3-0 (2016)

Record Gateshead victory: 3-0 (2018)

The sides last met in March, where a travelling Gateshead lost 3-1 at the EBB Stadium. A second-minute opener from Jack Roles was undone by a trio of goals from Josh Barrett, Ryan Jones and Jack Barham.

The Shots’ most recent trip to the GIS saw a 2-2 draw in November 2024, which proved an equally fruitful outing for the JB pair. Barrett opened the scoring early on, poking into an open goal after a beautiful team move, before the Heed reversed the lead before half-time with strikes from Owen Oseni and Callum Whelan, both of whom have now departed for Plymouth and Carlisle respectively. A dogged second 45 saw Jack Barham squeeze one in after a scramble in the box, which proved the final goal of the afternoon.

TICKET INFO

Tickets for our trip to Gateshead on Saturday, 30th August can be bought online by clicking HERE

When following the link, or visiting Gateshead’s ticketing website, ensure to select the ‘Away Fans’ section under ‘Available items’.

Ticket Prices are as follows:

• ADULT – £22
• CONCESSION (65+, Blue Light, Armed Forces) – £17
• 17-21 – £12
• YOUTH – £7
• 14 AND UNDER – FREE (Must be accompanied by a paying adult)

Please note that those purchasing tickets outside of the adult tier may be asked for proof of eligibility. If you can not provide, you will be asked to pay the difference to an Adult priced ticket in addition to your initial ticket cost.

IF YOU CAN’T MAKE IT

Live updates will be available from our social media platforms X (@OfficialShots), Instagram (@aldershottownfcofficial), and Facebook. After the game, highlights will be available on our YouTube channel.

The game can be streamed to overseas viewers via DAZN’s National League TV coverage. Click HERE to purchase a match pass.

There will be live commentary of the game provided by BBC Radio Surrey – listen online HERE