Hartlepool dent Gateshead’s play-off bid with 3-2 win

Promotion hopefuls Gateshead were handed back-to-back National League defeats after being beaten 3-2 by Hartlepool.

Joe Grayson fired wide for the Heed in the early stages but Pools took the lead in the 25th minute when Luke Charman headed home from a free-kick.

Reyes Cleary then had a shot cleared off the line as the hosts looked to extend their advantage and the forward soon struck in the 43rd minute with a cool finish past Tiernan Brooks.

Gateshead pulled one back just two minutes into the second half through Jovan Malcolm’s free-kick, but Hartlepool soon restored their two-goal cushion when Mani Dieseruvwe nodded home in the 72nd minute.

Jamie Bramwell struck from a corner in the 90th minute as the visitors looked to stage a late comeback, but Pools held on for three points to leave the Heed just inside the play-off positions by two points.