An early goal from Joe Partington was not enough as Gateshead put in a dominant display to defeat Aldershot despite a late push spurred by a Corey Jordan stoppage time goal.
The Shots made one change from the side that beat Southend last weekend with new signing Jai Rowe coming in for Henry Ochieng who was named on the bench.
Things got off to a fantastic start for Aldershot when they took the lead after just seven minutes. An Olly Pendlebury corner was flicked on by Joe Partington and hit one of a number of bodies in the centre before finding the back of the net. Certainly one for the dubious goals panel to look at but strong claims from Partington suggest it will be hard to take the goal away from the captain.
The home side were looking bright and playing some really nice football in the opening ten minutes but the left side which looked so dangerous early on began to be picked apart and exploited by Gateshead.
Adam Campbell was causing real problems with runs in between Tyler Frost and Myles Kenlock and he would add another goal o his collection as Gateshead top scorer this season in the 20th minute with a good finish from a tight angle that hit the post and in.
The visitors were buoyed by their equaliser and began to control proceedings whilst looking dangerous but Aldershot were holding firm with last ditch challenges and a number of blocks from Corey Jordan.
Luca Ashby-Hammond chipped in with a couple of saves but it was all Gateshead before half-time as the sides went into the break level.
HALF-TIME
The Shots needed to regroup at half-time as, though the scores were level, they were the side under pressure in the first 45. But, Gateshead ruined those plans as they took the lead just two minutes into the second-half.
Campbell was still causing problems and he was involved in a neat move that resulted in the ball falling to Marcus Dinanga’s feet with the goal gaping from about 10 yards out for an easy finish for the striker.
Gateshead then had the ball in the back of the net for a third in the 53rd minute but the assistant referee’s flag was raised to deny Campbell a second goal of the afternoon.
However, just a few minutes later, it was Dinanga who would get his second goal and Gateshead’s third to confound a miserable start to the second-half.
Aldershot had an immediate opportunity to get back into the game from another Pendlebury corner. Ryan Glover headed the ball down but Tyler Cordner’s close-range effort sailed over the bar.
The visitors were happy to sit on their two goal cushion and the Shots weren’t creating much – if anything – to push them until the game went into stoppage time.
Ryan Glover delivered a brilliant cross which swung all the way to the back-post where Corey Jordan found himself unmarked for an easy headed goal from just yards out.
The Shots piled the pressure on for the last couple of minutes and even saw Ashby-Hammond come forward for a corner as a dangerous delivery narrowly evaded all 10 Shots in the box but it was too little too late as Gateshead held on to take all three points home.
Shots lineup: 1. Luca Ashby-Hammond, 2. Myles Kenlock, 4. Joe Partington (c) (10. Josh McQuoid 80′), 5. Tyler Cordner, 7. Justin Amaluzor, 8. Tyler Frost, 15. Jai Rowe (20. Michael Klass 46′), 16. Corey Jordan, 19. Oliver Pendlebury (9. Tahvon Campbell 67′), 23. Ryan Glover, 30. Jack Barham. Subs not used: 17. Jake Hutchinson, 18. Henry Ochieng.
