Match Report
The table gap was wide: 29 points between Lincoln City (1st, 99 pts) and Gateshead (8th, 70 pts). Gateshead had been under-performing their position — 19th on five-round form against 8th in the table. Per game in the league, Gateshead were scoring 1.57 and conceding 1.11, Lincoln City 1.8 and 0.87, against a competition average of 1.36 goals per team per game.
Lincoln City entered with five wins in a row, having scored in 6 consecutive games. Gateshead had banked 6 of the last 15 points on offer; Lincoln City, 15.
Gateshead International Stadium staged the fixture, a ground that holds 11,800. Gateshead led 1-0 at the break, and the second half added 2 goals for the 1-2 full-time score.
Goal scorers
Gateshead: Patrick McLaughlin (29') · Lincoln City: M. Rhead (90'), Nathan Arnold (90')
Key stats
Possession: Gateshead 48% · Lincoln City 52% · Total shots: 6-9 · On target: 2-6 · Corners: 6-7