GATESHEAD 4-0 WEST AUCKLAND
Wednesday 24 October, 7:30PM, Newton Moor Challenge Cup
Lee Ellison's first game in charge ended in defeat but a much improved performance saw them come close on several occasions only for hard work to be undone by errors as they slipped out of the Newton Moor Challenge Cup.
Both sides came close to opening the scoring early on - Jamie Middleton headed the ball off the line in the 7th minute with West Auckland launching a counter attack after this. Dale Jardine's pin point cross found Thomas Louden sliding in with a defender but the West forward steered the ball wide from 6 yards.
Garry Barnes had a shot easily held by Alex McKenzie in the 22nd minute with Gateshead responding. Steve Bowey latched onto a half cleared ball to volley the ball narrowly the wrong side of goal.
After good work by Garry Barnes in the 29th minute, the forward's cross found Stuart Owen on the left and the winger was unfortunate to see his goal bound shot deflected away for a corner.
The hosts applied the pressure as half time became closer. In the 34th minute Paul Thompson had as shot deflected wide before a dangerous ball was played just behind the forward as Gateshead looked for the opener.
They were then gifted this lead with an error when Mark Bell came racing out of goal on a free kick only to not claim the ball as it came off Jamie Middleton's head and looped into the net. Garry Barnes responded by beating the keeper to the ball but , from a tight angle could not keep his lob down.
3 minutes before the break Gateshead extended their lead with a left wing cross perfectly headed home by Paul Thompson.
West dominated the start of the second half but Gateshead defended strongly. Dale Jardine fired narrowly over the bar in the 52nd minute before Garry Barnes saw an effort saved as West looked for a way back into the game.
These hopes though, appeared dashed in the 54th minute when Jamie Middleton was adjudged to have handled on the floor, in the penalty box, and Paul Thompson sent Lee Hutton the wrong way from the spot. This had been the substitute keeper's first involvement having replaced the injured Mark Bell at half time.
The visitors were aggrieved at the referee when Stuart Owen's jinking run was brought to an abrupt halt by a block in the area, this time the official waved play on. Gateshead countered but Steve Bowey could only head straight at the keeper.
Further West pressure, 15 minutes from the end saw further chances for Lee Ellison's men. After Garry Barnes has flashed a shot wide after good work, Dale Jardine's cross to the back post saw Stuart Owen arriving only for the winger to steer his shot into the side netting from a difficult angle.
In the 82nd minute an unmarked Thomas Louden could only head into the keeper's arms as West still could not find a way past the 16 year old debutant, Alex McKenzie.
2 minutes later, Paul Thompson should have sealed his hat trick when clean through. Lee Hutton though stood up well before making the save to deny the long serving Gateshead marksman.
When Thompson headed over unmarked in the 88th minute it appeared his last opportunity had gone for his third. However when Michael Heckley knocked the ball past Lee Hutton on the edge of the box, Thompson was left with the simple task of rolling the ball into the net to complete the win.
1. Mark Bell (17. Lee Hutton 45 mins), 2. Michael Heckley, 3. Kevin Bromley, 4. Ian Maddison, 5. Jamie Middleton, 6. Scott Nicholson, 7. Dale Jardine, 8. Danny Richmond, 9. Garry Barnes (14. Bradley Woods 81 mins), 10. Thomas Louden, 11. Stuart Owen
Subs Not Used: 12. Lee Ellison