GATESHEAD’S slim Vanarama Conference play-off hopes suffered yet another blow as they slipped to a 1-0 defeat at home to high-flying Bristol Rovers.

Ellis Harrison’s second-half strike leaves the Heed 12 points adrift of the final play-off place, and means Gary Mills’ side will have to string together a remarkable sequence of results if they want to feature in the end-of-season promotion battle for the second season in a row.

Gateshead started strongly, with Valentin Gjokaj firing over the crossbar in the first minute and Carl Finnigan narrowly failing to convert debutant Lynden Gooch’s corner two minutes later.

Gooch, who has joined Gateshead on loan from Sunderland, saw a first-half effort blocked by Andy Monkhouse, but Bristol Rovers served notice of their own threat before the interval as former Newcastle trainee Daniel Leadbitter charged into the box before shooting over the bar.

 Matty Taylor went close for the visitors with a second-half shot that sailed over the top, but Rovers finally make a breakthrough with 19 minutes remaining.

Lee Brown’s long ball evaded Tom Allan, and Harrison held off the Gateshead defender before lifting the ball into the net.

Gateshead return to action tomorrow when FA Trophy finalists Wrexham visit the International Stadium.

Gateshead: Bartlett, Jones, Curtis, Clark (Allan 40), Oster (Ramhsaw 85), Finnigan, Baxter, Rodman, Pattison, Gjokaj (Campbell 75), Gooch.