Tough night for City as Gateshead run riot.

Oxford City 0

Gateshead 4

Dinanga 25', 57'

Olley 73'

McBride 90+3

Oxford City well beaten at home against a dominant Gateshead Town in the Vanarama National League.

Goals from Captain Greg Olley, Connor McBride and a double from Striker Marcus DInanga sealed the win.

SELECTION

Ross Jenkins made four changes to the starting team that lined up away at Oldham.

Josh Ashby remained sidelined, and Zac McEachran dropped to the bench.

However, Nya Kirby and Josh Parker both returned to the Starting XI for City, and there was a place on the substitutes bench for new signing Remmy Smith.

First-Half

Gateshead started well and showed why they’re at the top end of the table, with a number of attacks early on.

Barnsley loanee Kyran Lofthouse came the closest to breaking the deadlock who saw his effort fly just above Chris Haigh's crossbar, five minutes in.

Although, the Hoops were inches away from opening the scoring themselves after Andre Burley rose highest and powered a header from a corner well towards goal, but he saw his header expertly cleared off the line and onto the crossbar.

However, Gateshead opened the scoring with twenty-five minutes on the clock with a routine straight from the training ground.

Ed Francis began the move, sending a ferocious ball into the box which caused a goalmouth scramble, and there was Dinanga ready and waiting to stab home from close range; 0-1.

Half Time: Oxford City 0-1 Gateshead

Second-half

After the break, it was the same story, and Gateshead continued their explosiveness from the re-start and looked to add to their lead and looked to kill the game off.

City continued to try and knock on the Heed's door but the backline of Gateshead continued to hold strong and keep the likes of Josh Parker at bay.

City had a first shot on target mid-way through the second-half to but Alfie Potter's attempt was straight at 'keeper Archie Mair after the attacker was slipped in 1 vs 1 by Parker.

To compound City's dismay, Gateshead doubled their lead just before the hour mark and it was Dinanga again.

Lofthouse dribbled down his right wing and drove a cross across the face of goal, to set up Dinanga for a simple tap-in. 0-2.

From then on, City had a mountain to climb.

If there was one thing Ross Jenkins was to get out of this evening, it was that City never gave in, and they kept on trying to find a way past the brick-wall of the Gateshead defence.

Things didn’t seem to go City's way throughout the match and Gateshead showed their class and proved why they’re at the top end of the table.

On a more positive note, Austrian international Renny Smith made his debut, coming on for Alfie Potter after 72 minutes.

There won’t be many teams City play will be as composed and patient, yet so fluid and dangerous on the attack as Gateshead were, and a costly mistake at the back from City settled the game.

Nya Kirby was unable to clear his lines in front of the City goal, and City were punished by a ruthless Gateshead press.

Greg Olley pounced on the midfielder, nicked the ball from under his feet and poked a shot into the back of the net from inside the six-yard box. 0-3.

To make matters worse, City conceded another in stoppage time.

Connor McBride rubbed salt into the wound, once again putting the finishing touch on a well-worked Heed move.

The substitute drilled a shot into the bottom left corner after the visitors carved through City's backline.

The scoreline didn’t flatter Gateshead, who were much the better side throughout the 90.

Time for City to debrief and regroup before going again Saturday evening when they welcome Altrincham to The RAW Charging Stadium, 17:30 Kick-Off.

Match Details

Attendance: 787 (51 Gateshead)

Oxford City Starting XI: 

Haigh, Burley, Miccio, Kirby, Coyle, Fleet, Parker, Potter (Smith 72'), Fonkeu (Sanderson 69'), Carroll, Moore (Williams-Bushell 60')

Subs not used: Harrison, McEachran

Gateshead Starting XI: 

Mair, Richardson, Tinkler, Francis, Grayson, Hannant, Wearne (McBride 78'), Olley, Lofthouse (Hunter 76'), Dinanga (Routledge 81'), Booty

Subs not used: Chadwick, Storey