FC Halifax Town 1 Gateshead 0: Preston strike ensures Town get their just rewards to go top

Two days after defeat at Boreham Wood, Town bounced back with a deserved win to go top of the table with five victories from their first seven games.

Former Gateshead man Preston was Town’s only change, replacing Jonathan Edwards, and coming back to haunt his old side here.

Town created a couple of good early chances, Ben Tomlinson heading Joe Skarz’s cross wide, before Dayle Southwell saw his shot saved well by Aynsley Pears., who produced an even better stop from the same player soon after.

On the verge of half-time, Tom White was punished for a sloppy pass to Kosylo on the halfway line, as the Town winger burst forward and found Preston to his left, who produced a calm, low finish across goal.

Gateshead improved after the break, with Jack Hunter bringing a comfortable save from Johnson.

Preston and substitute Edwards had efforts at goal, but the run of play was largely Gateshead’s, although they failed to create any clear-cut chances.

FC Halifax Town: Johnson, Hanson, Clarke, Brown, Skarz, Lenighan, Berrett, Tomlinson, Preston, Kosylo, Southwell (Edwards 71). Unused substitutes: Rowley, McLeod, King, Odelusi.

Gateshead: Pears, Tinkler, Kerr, Hunter (Rigg 64), Mellish, Olley, Salkeld (Thomson 76), White, O’Donnell, Boden, Armstrong. Unused substitutes:Foden,Devitt, Forbes.

Referee: Peter Gibbons.