Caretaker Manager Steve Kittrick was given a stark reminder of the task in front of him after Guiseley’s second half capitulation saw them ship five goals without reply. Read how Gateshead took the Lions apart in read our match report sponsored by BuildADrive.com.
The Lions started with two banks of four at the back and in midfield which denied Gateshead the room to play their expansive game. Indeed, Guiseley created a couple of openings with John Johnston’s ball across the six yard box going unaswered and Hamza Bencherif’s header from Lebrun Mbeka’s long throw again finding no takers.
But all that changed on 37 minutes when a slip by Andy Hollins let in Adam Campbell who shot past Owen Mason.
Having suffered this setback just before the break the game was effectively put to bed within four minutes of the restart as Macauley Langstaff grabbed two quick goals in the space of two minutes.
First he latched on to a through ball from Greg Olley and his second, two minutes later, was a virtual copy of the first only this time the shot was from an acute angle to give Gateshead an unasailable three nil lead.
Not having learnt their lesson another through ball left the home defence flatfooted allowing Connor Malley to beat Mason for the fourth.
The Lions hit back with a free kick twenty yards out which was hit straight at Filip Marschall. Two corners came to nothing and Guiseley conceded again in the 75th minute when Jason Sraha failed to control the ball and Taylor Charters took full advantage, his first time effort finding the back of the net from the edge of the area.
Charters then completed the home sides misery with his second and his sides sixth with a header past Mason in the 90th minute.
The defeat leaves Guiseley bottom of the pile three points adrift of Farsley who lost at fellow strugglers Blyth, with five games left to play.
Attendance: 907 including 242 Gateshead fans
Team: 1. Owen Mason, 2. Regan Hutchinson, 3. Jason Sraha, 4. Prince Ekpolo, 5. Hamza Bencherif (C), 6. Andy Hollins, 7. Dom Tear (71’ Gale), 8. Lebrun Mbeka (76′ Ethan Cartwright), 9. Josh Stones (68′ Haw), 10. John Johnston (76′ Thierry Latty-Fairweather ) and 11. George Cantrill.
Subs: 12. Adam Haw, 13. Scott Moloney (GK), 15. Thierry Latty-Fairweather, 16. Ollie Brown and 17. Ethan Cartwright.