Moors fell to a third successive pre-season defeat as Gateshead ran out 3-1 winners at The Brewery Field on Tuesday evening.

A trio of first half goals were enough to down Moors despite Graeme Lee’s men pulling a goal back before the break.

Moors started the game the brighter, forcing visiting keeper Tiernan Brooks into an early save to stop Cam Salkeld’s effort on goal.

However, it was Gateshead that struck the early blow, as Will Flint opened the scoring just 10 minutes in. The defender rose up and headed home from inside the six-yard box despite the best efforts of Brad James, who tried to scramble to his feet after saving an initial shot on goal.

Stand-in captain, Matty Dolan tried an effort from the edge of the area but saw his strike saved by Brooks.

Gateshead continued to pressure the Moors defence, as Trialist B found space just inside the area. The number 17 drilled an effort low, but James was equal to the attempt.

The Heed did find their second on 21 minutes, through newly signed Dom Telford. The former League 2 Golden Boot winner slotted home calmly beneath James from close range following good buildup from the away outfit down the left.

Moors looked to carve a way back into the fixture through Corey McKeown, who did well to find space and bare down on the 18-yard box. His curled effort, however, flew just over the bar.

Graeme Lee’s men did get a goal back just before the half hour mark through Trialist B. Salkeld did well on the right before squaring a ball into the area, which was powered home by the number 19.

Despite this, Gateshead did find a third on the stroke of half time through Callum Bone. The Heed’s number 23 was on hand to prod home from close range after the ball was squared to him from the left-hand side, bringing an end to the first 45.

The visitors came out strongly in the opening stages of the second half as Fenton John, had his header saved, before Trialist B took two attempts on James’ goal, only to be thwarted by Moors’ Number 1.

Gateshead went close again on the 70th minute through John again, as he rolled an effort inches wide of the left upright with his cross-goal strike.

The Heed continued their pursuit of a fourth and less than two minutes later, Kain Adam got in behind before firing a powerful effort goalward, which was, again, well saved by James, who managed to get the ball over the bar.

Moors sub, Dan Atkinson, almost got Graeme Lee’s side back into the affair with his curled effort from the edge of the penalty area, only to see the strike palmed away by Brooks.

The visitors went agonisingly close to a fourth right at the death, as Atkinson mistakenly played Frank Nouble in on goal. However, the substitute striker made a mess of his first touch, which allowed James to gratefully grab the loose ball.

Full Time: Moors 1 Gateshead 3

Moors: James, Dyson, Pollock, Beals, Heaney (Luck 74), Trialist A (Atkinson 74), Dolan (Butler 86), Salkeld (Mondal 62), Hancox (Doherty 62), McKeown (Lumsden 89), Trialist B (Madine 62).
Sub not used: Barron.

Referee: David Webb

Attendance: 603