MATCH PREVIEW | GATESHEAD

Barnet are back at The Hive Stadium this Saturday (3pm) as they take on Gateshead in the Vanarama National League.

Barnet FC:

Barnet secured a 1-0 victory against Altrincham at the J Davidson Stadium in a tense Vanarama National League encounter.

The match saw early pressure from both teams, with Altrincham testing Barnet’s defence early on.

Barnet had a chance when Callum Stead’s shot was ruled offside, while Rhys Browne’s strike from a tight angle was saved by Altrincham goalkeeper, Rob Lainton.

The first half saw solid defensive work from Barnet’s backline, lead by Danny Collinge, who denied Regan Linney a breakthrough with a strong defensive display.

Barnet took the lead just before halftime after Idris Kanu won a free kick. Club Captain Anthony Hartigan’s expert delivery into the box was met by the head of Rhys Browne.

Browne’s header hit the crossbar and bounced into the net for the only goal of the match.

In the second half, Altrincham pushed for an equalizer, with Charlie Olson’s effort going just wide and Matty Kosylo setting up a chance that was saved by Barnet’s goalkeeper Owen Evans.

Despite continued pressure from the hosts, Barnet held firm, with Evans and the defence denying Altrincham any chance of scoring and secured all three points with a 1-0 win.

Barnet’s last five results:

Altrincham 0-1 Barnet FC

Woking 0-1 Barnet FC

Barnet FC 1-0 Dagenham & Redbridge

Barnet FC 5-0 Yeovil Town

Oldham Athletic 0-3 Barnet FC

From the dugout:

Connor Smith’s pre-match interview can be viewed HERE!

Gateshead:

Gateshead endured a defeat last Saturday as they were beaten 2-0 at home by an in-form Tamworth side, in a National League clash that saw the visitors continue their impressive run.

The game remained tense and competitive through the first hour, but it was Tamworth who broke the deadlock on the 60-minute mark.

Callum Cockerill-Mollett delivered an inviting cross into the box, and Dan Creaney rose above the defence to score with a well-directed looping header, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead.

Gateshead tried to respond, but the hosts struggled to create meaningful chances, and Tamworth capitalized on their opportunities.

With just over ten minutes remaining, Creaney turned provider, setting up Tom McGlinchey for a clinical strike.

McGlinchey’s shot found the back of the net, sealing the victory for the Lambs and making it 2-0.

Tamworth’s fourth win in their last five matches extended their unbeaten run to seven games, moving them within just three points of the play-off spots.

On the other hand, Gateshead’s tough run continues, as they remain winless in seven games and stay in sixth place, unable to recover from their recent struggles.

Despite a strong start to the season, the loss leaves Carl Magnay’s men in a difficult position, with questions raised about their ability to return to winning ways.

Gateshead’s last five results:

Gateshead 0-2 Tamworth

Gateshead 1-3 Braintree Town

Gateshead 0-2 Maidenhead United

Aldershot Town 3-1 Gateshead

Rochdale 1-0 Gateshead

In the opposition dugout:

Gateshead manager Carl Magnay will be in the dugout for the visitors this Saturday, with his assistant Liam Bridcutt alongside him.

Magney began his professional career at Chelsea, before moving to Gateshead in 2012.

Over two spells, Magnay made 122 appearances, notably featuring in the 2014 Conference Premier play-off final and the 2023 FA Trophy final at Wembley.

He played a pivotal role in Gateshead’s National League North title win in the 2021-22 season, scoring in the decisive match against Chorley.

In October 2024, Magnay returned to Gateshead as the club’s manager, succeeding Rob Elliot.

Magnay’s deep connection with Gateshead, both on and off the field, positions him as a key figure in the club’s ongoing development.

Ones to watch:

Gateshead wide midfielder Luke Hannant is the clubs current top goal scorer so far this season, scoring 13 goals and assisting 8 in the league.

He has made 37 league appearances for The Tynesiders and is currently averaging a goal every 254 minutes this season.

Last time these two sides met:

Last time these two sides met Barnet suffered a 2-0 defeat at Gateshead International Stadium, with goals from Callum Whelan and Kain Adom securing the win for the hosts.

The match began with Barnet applying early pressure, including a corner won by Ryan Glover inside 20 seconds.

However, it was Gateshead who took the lead when Whelan pounced on a rebound after Nick Hayes saved an initial shot.

Barnet responded with a couple of chances, including a near goal from Joe Kizzi, but his close-range shot was tipped onto the post by Gateshead’s keeper, Harry Moss.

Despite some promising moments, including a shot from Kain Adom that also struck the post, Gateshead doubled their lead early in the second half, as Adom’s skilful play inside the box allowed him to score past Hayes.

Barnet pressed for a response, but Ade Oluwo’s attempt was saved, and Finley Wilkinson’s header was denied by Moss’s best save of the match.

Gateshead almost sealed the game with a few more chances, but last-ditch defending from Oluwo and Kizzi denied them.

Barnet’s Mark Shelton came close in the final minutes with a header that went just wide, but unfortunately for the Bees the match ended 2-0 in favour of Gateshead.

This Saturday, The Bees face another challenging test as they aim to extend their impressive run of form. With character and determination, they will look to push forward and extend their lead at the top of the table.