GATESHEAD V LINCOLN CITY

FA Trophy - Second Round 

Today A Good Cup Run makes a swift return to the International Stadium where three weeks ago, in the first round, Gateshead made hard work of beating lower league King’s Lynn. Today the task is as hard as it could be, as visitors Lincoln City sit top of the non-league pyramid and are on a high after recent heroics in the FA Cup. Mitigating factors for Gateshead are their own current run of good form – unbeaten since King’s Lynn, including a win over high flying Barrow – and their opponent’s possible lack of focus ahead of their scheduled midweek televised replay against Ipswich.

Weather conditions are sunny, still, but cold; an early morning inspection needed to confirm the pitch as playable. At kick off the visiting fans (only a fraction of the numbers that went to Suffolk) have the advantage of sitting in the sunshine on the far side of the stadium, while the home fans huddle in their familiar gloom of the main stand. Both sets stand to provide a minute’s applause in memory of Graham Taylor who apparently was involved with Lincoln early in his career.

A lively start shows both teams have pace up front, with runs from Ward on Lincoln’s right and Bell on Gateshead’s left. But on four minutes it is from Gateshead’s right that danger comes. Luke Hannant crosses and Jordan Burrow takes the ball in his stride and hammers home from six yards to give the home team the lead.

Lincoln’s immediate response is for Ward and Long to combine and produce a dangerous cross that Gateshead keeper Dan Hanford goes full length to push out; the ball comes to Elliot Whitehouse but his shot is high over the bar. A Lincoln free kick provides the next opportunity but left back Sam Habergham’s strike is easily taken by Hanford. The keeper is given more practice by Adam Marriot who shoots from distance straight at him.

Meanwhile Gateshead do occasionally get beyond the Lincoln back four, but without creating chances. In fact it is a free flowing positive game with both teams going forward at every opportunity. As half time approaches, beefy Gateshead midfielder Gus Mafuta wins a tackle deep in the Lincoln half, advances a pace or two, then unleashes a fierce shot that forces Paul Farman to make a good save low down to his right. However Lincoln have the last attempt of the half; this time it is Alan Power’s turn to direct a shot straight at Hanford.

The second half opens with an early thrust from Gateshead, Hannant capping a fine diagonal run with a shot that to the near post that fails to catch out Farman. However Lincoln then take control. A Gateshead foul concedes a free kick just outside the box; its central position makes the placing of the wall tricky, and Habergham takes advantage by sidefooting the ball past it and into an unguarded corner of the net.

Lincoln now have momentum and Terry Hawkridge is prominent in a couple of attacks. First he clips a shot wide, then gets to the by-line on the left but pulls the ball back so far it sets up a Gateshead counter attack.

With twenty minutes to go the PA announces that in the event of scores remaining level to the end there will be extra time and, if needed, penalty kicks. Right on cue Lincoln take a corner and as the ball bobbles around the six yard box it is Whitehouse who gets a decisive foot in to poke the ball over the line. Now ahead, the confidence is flowing for Lincoln and just four minutes later Hawkridge picks up the ball inside the Gateshead half, sails past three defenders into the box and knocks the ball past the helpless Hanford and into the net. Three one looks decisive.

A rash of substitutions ensues as Gateshead look for fresh impetus and Lincoln look to save legs for midweek. Gateshead’s new man Toby Ajala is quickly into the action with a run down the right but his good cross is headed wide.

Into the last ten minutes Gateshead press hard and for the first time in the half gain a territorial advantage. In the aftermath of a free kick Burrow connects well with a volley but the ball cannons off a defender’s back and goes for a corner. Another free kick into the box sees Burrow rise and power a downward header that looks goalbound until Farman intervenes at the foot of the post with an excellent save.

With a two goal cushion Lincoln can avoid panicking under this late pressure, and with the help of some shenanigans around the corner flags are able to see out even the added five minutes without further incident.

The visitors, today playing in Lincoln green, end the match appropriately enough as merry men and will be in good heart for their big game midweek knowing, even if they lose that one, the Trophy route to Wembley (the more realistic) remains open.

As for Gateshead, their cup run is over for this season, as are my trips up the A1 to the International Stadium.