FORMER York City striker Jon Shaw grabbed a hat-trick as an impressive Gateshead team beat their North Yorkshire visitors 3-2 last night.

The Minstermen suffered their first defeat in five matches in front of a record Conference crowd of 1,604 at Gateshead’s International Stadium.

Jason Walker had earlier cancelled out Shaw’s first goal for the home side but the one-time Sheffield Wednesday forward struck twice either side of the break – his last effort from the penalty spot.

An 87th-minute James Curtis own goal gave City late hope but there can have been few complaints about the final outcome from the away team.

Gary Mills fielded the same starting line-up for the fourth consecutive game while Gateshead included former Minsterman Phil Turnbull in their side, as well as Shaw.

The hosts made a bright start to the match and forged into an early lead after left-back James Meredith conceded a third-minute corner.

Josh Gillies whipped in the flag-kick and Shaw rose high and unchallenged to head past Michael Ingham from five yards.

The Heed continued to make the early running with Micky Cummins and Shaw winning further headers in the City penalty box but both efforts missed the target.

Ingham also gathered an Odubade 25-yard attempt before Ben Clark headed another chance wide from another Gillies cross.

The Minstermen levelled the scores, however, with their first shot of the match on 23 minutes.

Jamie Reed threaded the ball through to Walker who, having sprung the offside trap, executed a deliciously, deft eight-yard finish over Paul Farman as the home ’keeper rushed off his line.

Within seconds, Reed then sidefooted against the crossbar but was flagged offside following Walker’s low centre from the left.

It was Gateshead, though, who netted next when Gillies was given the freedom of the right flank before curling in an inviting cross for Shaw to head in from an almost identical position to his first goal.

Cummins then tested Ingham from distance and the City ’keeper had to be alert to push over Odubade’s rising, angled drive moments later.

On 39 minutes, Chambers’ low edge-of-the-box shot called Farman into action but Cummins headed the last opportunity of the half wide from a Sam Rents corner.

From the restart, City were camped in the home half until the 52nd minute when a rapid counter attack saw Odubade charge at the visitors’ defence.

The former Oxford striker was caught by McGurk as he skipped past the City centre-back but, despite being knocked off balance, was allowed to get a shot away that Ingham saved.

Referee Peter Bankes, though, pulled play back and awarded the Heed a free-kick, while cautioning McGurk, who will now be suspended for Saturday’s trip to Stockport.

At the other end, Boucaud’s great run through the right channel was picked out by Jon Challinor only for the Trinidad and Tobago international to drag his shot across the face of goal.

But Gateshead continued to threaten with Gillies firing at Ingham after latching on to a Cummins through ball and Clark heading wide from six yards after Rents’ corner.

The Minstermen then conceded their sixth penalty in seven matches to give Shaw the chance to claim his second hat-trick in as many games when Challinor grabbed hold of Odubade’s shoulder after the speedy striker had escaped his attentions.

Shaw made no mistake from the spot, sidefooting low into Ingham’s bottom left-hand corner with the City ’keeper having guessed the wrong way.

The former Northern Ireland international was also forced into two saves from excellent Odubade attempts before Curtis, under pressure from McGurk, headed past Farman from Adriano Moke’s corner.

That prompted a grandstand finish by the visitors with Blair forcing a low save from Farman, who charged off his line shortly afterwards to deny Meredith.

The City left-back then clattered into the far post as he attempted to meet Moke’s cross in the fourth and final minute of stoppage time but Mills’ men left the International Stadium pointless.

Match facts

Gateshead 3 (Shaw 3, 27, 68 (pen) ), York City 2 (Walker 23, Curtis own goal 88)

York City: Michael Ingham 7, Jon Challinor 6, David McGurk 5, Jamal Fyfield 6, James Meredith 5, Andre Boucaud 6, Scott Kerr 6, Patrick McLaughlin 6, Jamie Reed 7, Jason Walker 7, Ashley Chambers 6.

Subs: Matty Blair (for Reed 46, 6) Adriano Moké (for McLaughlin 65, 7) Liam Henderson (for Chambers 70) Not used: Chris Smith, Daniel Parslow.

Key: 10 – Faultless; 9 – Outstanding; 8 – Excellent; 7 – Good; 6 – Average; 5 – Below par; 4 – Poor; 3 – Dud; 2 – Hopeless; 1 – Retire.

City’s star man: Michael Ingham – pulled off several saves to keep a rampant Gateshead at bay.

Gateshead: Paul Farman, Eddie Odhiambo, James Curtis, Ben Clark, Sam Rents, Phil Turnbull, Kris Gate (Kyle Nix 72), Micky Cummins, Yemi Odubade, Jon Shaw, Josh Gillies (Gary Mulligan 75). Subs (not used): Nathan Fisher, Craig Baxter, Jak Alnwick.

Booked: Boucaud 20, McGurk 52, Challinor 70, Meredith 82.

Sent off: None.

Shots on target: Heed 9, City 4.

Shots off target: Heed 6, City 1.

Corners: Heed 10, City 6.

Fouls conceded: Heed 7, City 9.

Offsides: Heed 0, City 6.

Referee: Peter Bankes (Bootle).

Attendance: 1,604 (525 from York).