SHAYMEN HEED JINX RETURNS

GATESHEAD have never beaten FC Halifax Town since the Shaymen reformed 15 years ago, a run that stretched to 17 games following this latest false dawn.

- Jeff Bowron

The Heed were unable to avenge a 1-0 FA Trophy final defeat against Town in May as the National League’s second-highest scorers hit the buffers against the division’s meanest defence.

It was a fifth consecutive game against the Shaymen in which Gateshead have failed to find the net, no end in sight to the Heed’s Halifax hoodoo.

Town managed just three efforts on target, but two of them flew in as Kane Thomson-Summers’ first-half stunner was followed by a superb solo effort midway through the second from Millenic Alli.

Halifax defended brilliantly with Adam Senior and Jamie Stott rocks at the back, Town’s counter-attack game plan working to a tee as the Tynesiders fluffed their lines.