FC Halifax Town and Gateshead battled to a 1-1 draw in a closely contested match at The Shay Stadium, with both sides showing moments of brilliance but ultimately sharing the spoils in front of a crowd of 1,379, including 128 away fans. The game was marked by quick responses from both teams early in the second half, but neither could find a decisive winner.
A stalemate at the Shay
The match began with both teams feeling each other out, neither able to take control in a goalless first half. The visitors, Gateshead, lined up with Tiernan Brooks in goal and a defence marshaled by Louis Storey and Kenton Richardson. FC Halifax Town fielded Sam Johnson between the sticks, with a defensive setup including Adam Senior and Will Smith.
Quick-fire goals in the second half
The deadlock was broken immediately after the break when Owen Oseni of Gateshead found the net in the 46th minute, giving the visitors the lead. The joy for Gateshead was short-lived, however, as Halifax responded almost instantly. Just two minutes later, Adam Senior levelled the scoreline for the home side, ensuring that the match was back on even terms.
Substitutions and tactical changes
Both managers made several changes in the second half in an attempt to gain the upper hand. For Halifax, Aaron Cosgrave replaced Adan George in the 80th minute, followed by Florent Hoti coming on for Andrew Oluwabori three minutes later, and Owen Bray for Jack Jenkins in the 84th minute.
Gateshead’s manager also made tactical switches, with Tom Allan and Brandon Haunstrup entering the fray in the 70th minute for Jacob Butterfield and Will McGowan. Mark Beck was brought on for the goal scorer, Oseni, in the 77th minute, and Oliver Thompson replaced Callum Whelan right before the final whistle in the 90th minute.
Disciplined but competitive play
Despite the intensity of the contest, both sides managed to avoid any red cards. However, a few yellow cards were issued, with Will Smith of Halifax being cautioned in the 76th minute. Gateshead’s Regan Booty and Louis Storey received yellow cards in the 81st and 84th minutes, respectively, as the game heated up towards the end.
Final whistle and reflections
Referee Darren Drysdale oversaw a match that was evenly poised throughout, with neither side able to assert full dominance. The 1-1 draw was a fair reflection of the game, with both teams taking home a point.
This result keeps both FC Halifax Town and Gateshead in the hunt as they look to climb the table in the coming fixtures. With promising performances from key players on both sides, the season ahead looks set to be an exciting one for their fans.
