In a game spoiled by the weather Harriers gave another disappointing performance and were beaten by in-form Gateshead.

Andy Thorn made two changes to the side that drew at Hereford in midweek, Amari Morgan-Smith returning for the ineffective Freddie Ladapo and Callum Gittings in place of the departed Jack Dyer.  New signing Josh O'Keefe had to be content with a place on the bench to begin with.

A strong wind blowing from end-to-end spoiled the game as a spectacle and made life difficult for both sides.  Harriers played with it  to their advantage in the first half and did manage to venture into the opposition half far more than they had at Edgar Street.

Former Harrier Adam Bartlett in the Gateshead goal kept Harriers at bay when they did threaten saving well from a close-range Michael Gash header after just nine minutes and midway through the half when Gash used the wind to his advantage with a free-kick from only a few yards inside the Gateshead half.  He also saved from Gittings and skipper Kyle Storer but most of Harriers shots were from too far out to really trouble him.

After the break Gateshead wasted little time in adapting to the conditions but it was a Harriers mistake t hat lead to the opening goal on 50 minutes, John Oster pouncing when Adrian Cieslewicz was caught in possession just outside his own penalty area by former Harrier Colin Larkin.  James Marwood doubled the advantage just past the hour mark; his cross from out on the left touchline was carried by the wind beyond the dive of Danny Lewis and inside the far post.

The game was effectively ended as a contest in the 70th minute as Gateshead carved their way through the Harriers defence before Marcus Maddison rounded off the move by tucking his shot into the bottom corner of the net.

In the last minute Harriers pulled a goal back; Gateshead failed to clear a free-kick properly and when Mickey Demetriou played the ball back into the penalty area Josh Gowling hooked it away from Bartlett and substitute Marvin Johnson was on hand to fire in his third goal of the season.