Halifax hamper Gateshead’s promotion push

Halifax dented Gateshead’s National League promotion bid with a 3-1 win on Tyneside.

The Shaymen took a 15th-minute lead when Will Smith made an interception on halfway and found Scott High, who played in Zak Emmerson to cross for Owen Bray to score.

Heed goalkeeper Owen Mason kept out Emmerson’s 26th-minute effort as the visitors pushed for a second, and they got it in first-half stoppage time when Andrew Oluwabori followed up after Emmerson’s attempt had come back off the crossbar.

The home side, who would have moved two points off the top with victory, were back into it within five minutes of the restart through Luke Hannant’s penalty.

But Halifax restored their advantage with 24 minutes remaining when substitute Tom Pugh intercepted a poor pass and fed Max Wright, whose initial effort was saved by Mason before he converted the loose ball.