National League Gateshead were the visitors to Keys Park in the Emirates FA Cup to face Hednesford Town in front of the BBC cameras. An injury crisis at Hednesford saw Korey Roberts, Blaine Rowe and Sion Spence all miss Tuesday’s 2-2 draw at Witton on Tuesday night, although Roberts and Spence were fit enough to return to the starting eleven. Gateshead were making their second trip to Staffordshire in a week following a 2-1 loss at Tamworth.
The first chance of a tight and even first half fell to the home side when Dan Trickett-Smith saw a looping header tipped over the bar by Harry Moss after just five minutes. Trickett-Smith was close again four minutes later when Moss just beat him to a dangerous cross from the Pitmen’s Joel Taylor. After the initial flurry from the Pitmen, Gateshead took control of the game and dominated possession, winning a series of corners. Gateshead generally took their corners short which gave the Pitmen time and space to clear their lines. The Pitmen were still able to threaten on the break, on the half hour mark Rob Stevenson beat Moss to the ball, leaving it for the industrious Trickett-Smith to shoot just wide for the Pitmen. Five minutes later the Pitmen had a golden opportunity to take the lead when Jack Bearne put Taylor through on goal, however Taylor shot directly at Moss who was able to make a comfortable save. Trickett-Smith had another effort at goal when he fired a shot just over from long distance, before Stevenson broke through the Gateshead defence and forced a good save from Moss. Despite the superior possession of the visitors the best chances in the half fell to the home side who could count themselves as unlucky going into the break goalless.
HT 0-0
The second half began much as the first with Gateshead enjoying the lion’s share of the ball without being able to break down the resilient Pitmen defence, a series of corners for the visitors came and went without any breakthrough. The Pitmen were unable to carve out any breakaway chances in the early phase of the second half and it was perhaps inevitable when they went behind in the 64th minute. A well taken shot from Tyrelle Newton from six yards out beat Jack Rose to break the deadlock. The lead however only lasted five minutes as player of the match Rob Stevenson scored a stunning goal, latching onto a deflected shot from Joel Taylor. The remainder of the game was an even affair with both sides trying to find a winner. The Pitmen went closest to finding the decisive goal when Jack Bearne played Stevenson into the area who unleashed a fierce shot which Moss got a hand on before the ball rattled the crossbar. An additional nine minutes of injury time was played which saw a shot from Gateshead’s Tom Allan blocked by the impressive Josh Endall. Despite the extra time there were no more goals and the tie will go to a replay on Tuesday night.
Hednesford manager Steve King said after the game; “I thought we were outstanding at times, we needed to be disciplined against a very good Gateshead side. They had more possession than us, which was to be expected, but we had the better chances. We had some chances in the first half including an open goal and a couple of one on ones. We can consider ourselves unlucky not to win, but the replay will be a big ask, they are formidable at home and they are a top four National League side for a reason.”
Hednesford Town; Rose; Roberts, Sparkes (McHale 63), Johnson, Endall; Maye, Bearne, Spence (Duku 73),Taylor; Trickett-Smith (Holness 89); Stevenson. Subs not used; Sutherland, Brown, Alamu-Tajudeen, Gwilt.
Gateshead; Moss; Haunstrap (Belehouan 69), Radcliffe, Hannant, Newton; Butterfield (Colkett 81), Booty, Whelan; Oseni (Malcolm 71) , Worman (Home 89), Adom (Allan 71) Subs not used: Basey, Belehouan.
Attendance; 2669
