GATESHEAD v WORCESTER CITY

FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round

It is not my first visit to the Gateshead International Stadium, I was here amongst 20,000 plus to see the Athletics Europa Cup in 2013, but this is my first football match here. There will be a lot fewer of us today watching Gateshead play Worcester City, but the day is fine and the pitch looks good. The red tiered seats in the cavernous stands and the eight lane running track makes the ground less intimate than most at this level, but the upside is good facilities and catering.

‘The Heed’ play in the highest non-league division and have a one-step advantage over Worcester, but they are struggling of late and have a bit of an injury crisis; their opponents tasted cup glory last season, beating Coventry and taking Scunthorpe to a replay, so an even game is likely.

The first twenty minutes are even only in the score; Worcester are well on top. Gateshead’s understudy keeper, Shaun MacDonald, is already being tested in what is his first team debut, with teasing crosses which he claws away unconvincingly, and a looped header which he stretches to tip over the bar.

The latter only gives him another cross to deal with in the shape of a corner into a packed six yard box. It comes in low but somehow reaches Worcester centre forward Deon Burton, knee high three yards out, who gleefully volleys home.

The lead is deserved, but City cannot build on it. In a rare attack it is Gateshead who have the next chance when, from a corner kick, a Ryan Bowman downward header bounces near the goal line before being deflected up and over the bar. Worcester respond quickly and it needs desperate defending by Gateshead with a scrambling block, a diving save and a clearance off the line to keep it at one nil.

Neither dressing room will be happy at half time. Worcester City will be disappointed to be only one goal up; Gateshead will be dissatisfied with their performance that lacked any positivity. One home fan, seeing me writing notes, hopes I can spell ‘dire’.

But the second half opens with Gateshead unrecognisable. After just two minutes they have a shot on target (possibly their first) albeit straight at the keeper. Three minutes later another good chance is headed wide. Then an attack down the left produces a deep cross into the Worcester penalty area and Danny Johnson stoops to power a header goalwards. The keeper parries but Bowman is on hand to bundle the ball over for an equalising goal.

Worcester, lured by the first half into a false sense of superiority, take a while to get their game back together. But they do and slowly but surely regain their grip on the match. A succession of corners into that crowded six yard box proves troublesome for the debut keeper, who gets little help from a static defence. Sure enough one of these to the near post is smuggled over the line by Burton for his second goal.

City do not rest on their laurels but continue to press Gateshead back; the home team’s second half push has stalled. Worcester’ lead remains at 2-1 solely due to keeper MacDonald producing some fine saves including three in succession as each parry rebounds to an attacker. This is followed up by a dive to tip an overhead kick past the post.

His heroics leave the door ajar for a last gasp Gateshead charge which produces a late chance for centre-half Ben Clark, but his sidefoot effort is blocked by the keeper and the rebound rolls out of reach.

Worcester City, courtesy of two goals from their ex-Derby County man Deon Burton, go through to the first round again. Gateshead’s performance is summed up by their debut keeper being named man of the match.

It is another away win in this season’s Good Cup Run (the fifth in the six ties) and with the other match ending in a draw and a lost replay, my presence at a first round proper tie will not be welcomed by the home club.