Forest Green saw their home league unbeaten run come to an end after Gateshead took all three points at The New Lawn with a 3-2 win despite a late Rovers rally.

A brace from Jovan Malcolm and a second half Liam Humbles strike saw Gateshead lead, but Rovers battled back with a George Shelvey own goal and Christian Doidge finish in the latter stages.

Malcolm gave Gateshead an early lead in the opening 60 seconds of the match with a left-footed strike that just evaded Ted Cann in goal.

Rovers almost hit back immediately, but Liam Sercombe's strike flew just over the crossbar.

Ryan Inniss then forced Heed goalkeeper Shelvey into a fine save after his header was destined for the top corner but the shot-stopper made a superb save.

Gateshead doubled their lead just before the break when Tyrelle Newton's strike was parried away from goal by Cann but Malcolm on hand to slam the ball into the roof of the net.

Rovers came close to halving the deficit soon after the interval when Ben Tozer's long throw found Inniss but his flick-on came back out off the upright.

Humbles made it three just after the hour mark when his strike from the edge of the area found the bottom corner.

Rovers got one back late on after Regan Booty's back pass evaded Shelvey and nestled into the bottom corner.

Doidge netted in stoppage time following a cushioned header by Joe Quigley but it wasn't enough as Gateshead took the points.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

FGR: Cann, Robson, Tozer, Inniss, Long (Knowles 78), May, Osadebe (Jenks 70), Sercombe, McAllister (McCann 85), Cardwell (Doidge 70), Garrick (Quigley 70).

Subs not used: Bunker, Fleming.

Gateshead: Shelvey, Richardson, Haunstrup (Worman 83), Grayson (Bartley 70), Humbles, Hannant, Booty, Akinola, Robson (Horton 38), Newton (Johnson 88), Malcolm (Sellars-Fleming 88)

Subs not used: Bond, Nouble.