Michael Gash's missed penalty wasn't costly as Harriers scored three times to see off the Tynesiders.

Harriers, featuring just one player making his debut - Lee Fowler - in the starting line-up began brightly and soon had their guests on the back foot.

Just 12 minutes were required for Harriers to make the breakthrough; Michael Gash heading in at the near post from Kyle Storer's corner.  Harriers continued to create chances throughout the half with Anthony Malbon firing into the side netting and Callum Gittings shooting over the bar.

They didn't take the chances, though, and were made to pay for it three minutes before the break; after Harriers gave the ball away it was knocked forward on the right to Jamie Chandler who made a good run into the penalty area, Danny Lewis could only parry his shot and Richard Brodie was on hand to tap in the rebound.

After the break Gateshead came out in more positive fashion, buoyed by their late equaliser, and could have gone in inside the first three minures of the second half; first Josh Gowling made an excellent tackle to deny former Harrier Adam Boyes at the expense of a corner from which Ben Clark sent the ball goalwards but Mickey Demetriou was on hand to clear off the line.

On the hour mark Harriers regained the lead having weathered the storm; Malbon made a run on the right, passing inside to Storer; he pulled the ball back to Gittings who mis-hit his shot which deceived former Harrier Adam Bartlett in the Gateshead goal.  Soon afterwards Josh Walker's cross from the left created a great chance for Gateshead to get back level but James Brown fired over the bar from close range.  Bartlett was nearly caught out again soon afterwards when Lee Vaughan's cross from the right hit the far post and bounced across the face of goal before being hacked to safety.

Harriers should have gone further ahead on 77 minutes after Joe Tait handled in the penalty area but Gash blasted his spot-kick against the crossbar.  Three minutes later, though, Harriers made the game safe; Storer played a short corner back to Vaughan whose cross from the right found Chey Dunkley at the far post who sent a perfect looping header back across goal over Bartlett.