The Kuflink Stadium’s final home game of 2024 and Josh Wright’s first in charge on home soil ended in defeat as a slick Gateshead side scored twice in each half to further their promotion hopes. 

A number of changes to the lineup were enforced due to the illness that had hit the Fleet squad earlier this week and with Dominic Poleon returned to the starting eleven, he found himself through the middle with a chance early on. He wrestled his way through the Gateshead back line and dispatched a shot from a tight angle which was deflected across the mouth of the goal but Gateshead cleared before another red shirt could turn it home. 

Luke Hannant forced a save from Mark Cousins at the other end and Ben Radcliffe should have done better with a header from close range that he never really connected properly with and it hit the floor before bouncing over the bar. 

The Fleet coped well with Gateshead’s possession and Poleon’s runs on goal promised a little more in attack but the visitors took the lead just before the 20-minute mark when Callum Whelan picked out the bottom corner with a precise shot from the edge of the box. Gateshead began to find their rhythm then and Owen Oseni’s shot towards Cousins’ near post was pushed out.

The Fleet picked up the pace and forced a handful of chances at the Swanscombe End. Rakish Bingham latched on to a misplaced pass from goalkeeper Owen Mason but didn’t trouble the young Gateshead keeper. Consecutive corners proved a threat for the Fleet and Tyler Cordner’s header was marginally wide while Gateshead cleared a number of crosses into the middle.

Gateshead doubled their advantage just before half-time when they got away on the break and Craig Tanner was penalised for a tackle on Oseni just inside the area. It was greeted with disbelief by most inside the Kuflink Stadium as Tanner appeared to have halted Oseni with a perfectly legitimate foot on the ball and no Gateshead player appealed. But it was Hannant who stepped up regardless and converted from the spot. 

Looking to turn around a two-goal deficit once more, Fleet weren’t given a chance by Gateshead who came out strongly. Cousins tipped an effort from the right away from goal but Oseni was on hand just by the six-yard line to tap the ball home to make it 3-0 on 57 minutes.

Oseni then grabbed his second six minutes later, another close-range effort after another well-worked Gateshead attack through Fleet’s defence.

An offside flag from the assistant denied Gateshead a fifth when Oseni stabbed home once more but other than the visitors’ goals, it was a half of minimal action in the second half. The Fleet did secure one late on when Tyler Cordner spread himself low from a ball out after a Tanner corner to send a powerful header past Mason and give the Fleet fans something to celebrate. 

Aaron Cosgrave almost made it a second moments later with an acrobatic attempt in the closing stages but Mason saved that and the home side went into Christmas with their minds on the Southend visit.

EUFC: Cousins, O’Neill (Cosgrave 56), Page (Souaré 56), Cordner, Dallison, Domi (Tanga 71), Aoraha (Manktelow 64), Tanner, Davies, Bingham (Thomas 71), Poleon. Subs not used: Berry, Anthony.
GFC: Mason, Belehouan, Radcliffe, Grayson, Booty (Clockett 82), Worman (Humbles 72), Hannant (Adom 82), Newton, Williams, Whelan, Oseni (Malcolm 66). Subs not used: Basey, Tinkler, Jones.
Attendance: 1,275 (44 away)

Images courtesy of Ebbsfleet United, Ed Miller and Tom Harris