Morecambe remain bottom of National League after heavy Gateshead defeat

Morecambe conceded four goals in the opening twelve minutes as they slipped to a heavy 5-2 defeat against Gateshead in the National League at the Mazuma Mobile Stadium.

Click here to listen to post match reaction from manager Ashvir Singh Johal

The Shrimps made three changes for the game following Saturday’s defeat at Truro, with defenders Alie Sesay and Raheem Conte, and forward Harry Panayiotou coming into the starting line up.

The Heed were ahead inside two minutes. Harry Chapman broke down the left, and cut in before curling a right footed effort into the corner from 20 yards.

In the fourth minute the lead was doubled, as a defence splitting pass put Kain Adom clear, who drew keeper Archie Mair before slipping the ball home.

Jack Nolan them hit the post for the Shrimps, before the third on nine minutes, when the Morecambe back line was once again cut open down the left, and Connor Pani swept the ball into the net from 15 yards.

With less than 12 minutes on the clock, the visitors made it 4-0, as Chapman helped himself to his second of the evening.

Morecambe bought on attacking midfielder George Thomas and he reduced the arrears with his first goal for the club 13 minutes before half time, riffling home from inside the area.

After the interval Morecambe came out the blocks the better of the two teams with chances early on through Rolando Aarons and George Thomas, as well as a fierce drive from Elijah Dixon-Bonner that was well saved, but the damage had already been done and the Gateshead defence stayed strong.

In the 72nd minute, Connor Pani got his second goal of the night with a precise right footed effort from outside the area.

Lewis Payne pulled another back for the Shrimps late on in stoppage time after being played in by Nolan.

The defeat leaves Morecambe with seven points from their first ten games, and bottom of the National League table ahead of a trip to Tamworth on Saturday.

Morecambe FC: Mair, Payne, Conte (Thomas 24'), Azeez, Panayiotou (Tollitt 45'), Cain, Aarons (Edwards 82'), Sesay (Francillette 69'), Songo'o (C), Dixon-Bonner, Nolan

Subs not used: Ascroft, Sutton, Raikhy.

Goals: Thomas 33', Payne 90+5'.

Bookings: Sesay 61'.

Gateshead FC: Brooks, Pani, Richardson (Williams 55'), Grayson (Flint 75'), Ferguson, Edwards, John, Butterfield (Home 46'), Adom (Lowery 75'), Nouble, Chapman.

Subs not used: Leech, Hurst, Bone.

Goals: Chapman 2' 12', Adom 4'. Pani 11'.

Bookings: Nouble 81'