Fleet’s opening-day trip to the north-east was a frustrating one as a skilful Gateshead side scored five to top the table on Matchday One.
Lewis Page and Jim Kellermann made their debuts alongside two more summer signings, Tyler Cordner and Louis John, but it was a home signing that caught the eye early on as ex-Derby County striker Owen Oseni gave the Fleet defence a lot to think about.
Oseni posted a warning in the opening minute, nipping in ahead of Mark Cousins who had to take emergency action and then head clear outside his own box. Gateshead continued to dominate possession without applying a finish to their attacking – at least that was until the 12th minute when they took the lead. Cousins palmed away a free-kick and the ball was played back across the box. Regan Booty swiped at it and missed but Callum Whelan picked it up and swept it into the far corner from 18 yards.
Tyrelle Newton had sight of goal from a long diagonal ball on 18 minutes but Fleet got a foot in to block him in the box. The same player had a hand in Gateshead’s next chance six minutes later that saw the home side pass their way into the six-yard box but Jacob Butterfield struck his shot well over the bar.
The referee had been a little hasty with cautions and Fleet felt hard done by when John was given the team’s third yellow before the half-hour mark for what appeared to be a good ball-winning challenge.
Fleet’s first real effort came on 33 minutes as Dominic Poleon produced a great touch to take down a long ball but he had a lot to do and as he got to the byline and crossed, it was given out by the referee’s assistant.
But moments later Gateshead were two up. It was Oseni again who got on to a loose ball as Fleet seemed to stop expecting a whistle. He was one on one with Cousins who made a great save but the Gateshead striker was back on to the ball and shrugged off a challenge to find the back of the net at the second attempt.
Oseni was looking for his hat-trick as he was on to John’s misplaced pass and he sped through, eventually denied by Jim Kellermann.
In time added on at the end of the first half, excellent football from the hosts as they passed and moved into the box gave Greg Olley the opportunity to pick his spot and he gently stroked a shot that curled into the corner.
Danny Searle changed shape at half-time with Tom Dallison and Kwame Thomas introduced but Gateshead made it 4-0 three minutes after the restart. Booty floated a clever ball to the far post with Fleet looking for an offside decision and lurking there was Olley who took a touch before finding the target.
Ben Chapman made an excellent tackle inside the box on Newton on 55 minutes as Gateshead continued to probe in forward positions. But skipper Olley got his hat-trick three minutes later when he was able to run the ball over the line and home from close range.
With the game won, Gateshead didn’t really threaten further as Fleet dug in and tried to take something from the match – but it ended on a sad note with a seemingly serious injury to Heed defender Joe Grayson who had to be stretchered off after injuring his knee.
Straight after that, Poleon tucked away a cross to give the Fleet a consolation but it’s all eyes on the home opener v Barnet next weekend.
EUFC: Cousins, O’Neill (Thomas 46), Page, Cordner (Phillips 60), John (Dallison 46), Wright (Fonguck 58), Kellermann, Chapman, Edser (Tanner 79), Samuel, Poleon. Subs: Cundle, Berry
GFC: Brooks, Tinkler, Richardson, Grayson, Hannant, Newton (Adom 64), Booty, Whelan (McGowan 69), Butterfield (Worman 72), Olley (Beck 72), Oseni (Allan 64). Subs: Moss, Storey
Attendance: 1,242 (79 EUFC)
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