Predictions National League - Tamworth vs Gateshead

National League - Tamworth vs Gateshead
Match Time: 09-10-2024 01:45 Wednesday (GMT+7)
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After back-to-back promotions from the Southern Premier Division Central to the National League over the past two years, Tamworth are understandably taking their time to find their feet at the top level of non-league football in England following a 10-year absence.

Successive wins over Maidenhead United, Braintree Town and AFC Fylde allowed the Lambs to move away from relegation trouble during the middle of September, but recent back-to-back defeats in the fifth tier have dragged Tuesday's hosts back towards danger at the rear end of the division.

It appeared as if Tamworth were on course for their fourth win in five matches on Saturday afternoon when strikes from Haydn Hollis and Dan Creaney fired their side into a two-goal lead at The Shay Stadium, but a second-half comeback from FC Halifax Town meant that the hosts collected maximum points courtesy of a 3-2 victory.

Competing in the National League for the first time since the 2013-24 campaign, the Lambs are currently occupying 19th position in the fifth-tier standings with a points total of 14 after 12 fixtures, sitting just two points above Fylde in the highest of the relegation spots.

With his only previous managerial experience arriving at AFC Rushden & Diamonds, Tamworth manager Andy Peaks has done an exceptional job in guiding the Midlands-based club to consecutive promotions over the past two years, with the 53-year-old having never managed at this level before.

Finishing sixth in the National League during the 2023-24 campaign but ultimately missing out on a chance at promotion due to off-field issues, Gateshead are raring and fighting to have another crack at earning a place in the Football League by the end of the 2024-25 schedule.

The Lamb Stadium will welcome one of the division's in-form outfits on Tuesday night, when the Tynesiders will be looking to extend their winning run across the National League and National League Cup to five matches, with the visitors conceding just a single goal since the 2-0 loss to promotion rivals Forest Green on September 21.

Boasting a handful of appearances for West Bromwich Albion in the Championship and cup competitions, Jovan Malcolm is hoping to jumpstart his senior career in the North-East this term, with the 21-year-old netting the only goal of the game on the weekend as Gateshead bested Wealdstone.

Apart from a woeful two-game spell in the middle of September, the Tynesiders have navigated the first section of the 2024-25 campaign unscathed, with the promotion contenders sitting fourth in the National League table, four points behind league leaders Barnet, who have played a game more.

Playing over 280 matches for Gateshead during the 2010s, Ben Clark is now in the managerial hotseat at Gateshead International Stadium, with the 41-year-old taking over on an interim basis earlier this month following Rob Elliot's departure to League One strugglers Crawley Town.

Prediction:  Tamworth 0-1 Gateshead